CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI – A Macomb County jury has found a 25-year-old man guilty of murdering the mother of his child, marking the end of a high-profile case that has left a young boy without either parent.

The trial centered on the January 15 shooting of 23-year-old Tianna Ross in the Peachtree Apartments complex on Weybridge Street, a quiet neighborhood just north of Detroit. Authorities say Ross was fatally shot during the exchange of custody of the couple’s two-year-old son — a meeting meant to facilitate co-parenting, but instead erupted into deadly violence.

Testimony revealed that, in the days leading up to the confrontation, tensions were escalating between Jaion Barnes and Ross. In a text sent a week before the shooting, Barnes apologized for a prior episode of domestic violence, promising he would never physically harm Ross again. But prosecutors argued that this assurance only foreshadowed the tragic events that were to follow.

On the afternoon of the shooting, Ross brought her son, along with his car seat and essentials, to the lobby of Barnes’ apartment building. She arrived after an exchange of messages about who should pick up the boy, with Ross reportedly frustrated by the cost of travel. Soon after entering, she was shot three times—once in the abdomen and twice in the head and face—while her young son sat just feet away, still in his car seat.

While there were no eyewitnesses in the immediate vicinity, the scene was quickly discovered by Barnes’ brother, Jamon Barnes, who recalled hearing gunshots from his nearby apartment. He recounted finding Ross’ body and the blood-stained car seat, at which point he took the child upstairs and dialed 911.

As the investigation progressed, authorities learned that Barnes had contacted his mother after the shooting and hid the gun used in the killing. His mother later testified that Barnes claimed the gun had discharged during a struggle with Ross, though prosecutors dismissed this version of events, pointing to the nature of the wounds and the lack of physical evidence supporting a struggle.

During closing arguments, the prosecution underscored the couple’s tumultuous history, suggesting longstanding patterns of control and violence on Barnes’ part. They argued that jealousy, resentment, and a refusal to accept Ross moving on with her life were likely motivators behind the deadly attack.

The jury deliberated for several hours following a six-day trial before returning guilty verdicts on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, felony firearm possession, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and domestic violence. Given Barnes’s status as a repeat offender, he now faces at least 25 years in prison, with a possible sentence of life.

Barnes is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26. The court heard that the tragedy has left the couple’s son without his mother and his father facing decades of incarceration.

Community members have since rallied around Ross’ family, launching an online fundraiser to support her son’s future needs. According to the campaign, Ross is remembered for her vibrant personality and infectious energy — a loss felt deeply by those who knew her.

As sentencing approaches, the family of Tianna Ross continues to mourn while seeking justice and stability for the young child at the heart of the case.