Parents of a Houston County teen convicted in a 2024 movie theater shooting say their son was not treated fairly and are now speaking publicly about the case.

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Terence Howard Jr., 15, was convicted in March 2026 of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of 14-year-old Tra’Quavis Holloway, following a fight outside a Warner Robins movie theater in 2024. 

He was sentenced to 37 years in prison, with the first 32 years to be served behind bars.

Prosecutors say Howard opened fire during the confrontation, shooting six times and killing Holloway.

Now, Howard’s parents are speaking out for the first time since the conviction, saying they believe the case was not handled fairly and that key details were overlooked during the trial.

“I just want the public to understand this,” Latasha Wood said. “I’m not here to argue, attack or belittle anyone. I’m here as a mother, a mother to my son who was 13 at the time that he faced a life-threatening situation, who is now facing 37 years in prison.”

Wood said the last two years have been defined by fear, stress and grief for her family.

“Our silence was never acceptance of the one-sided narrative,” she said. “We were simply in obedience to our legal guidance that we could not speak because it was an ongoing trial.”

She said the emotional toll extended far beyond the courtroom.

“For two years, my family has went through a nightmare,” Wood said. “It’s been devastating, not just emotionally, but mentally, physically, spiritually and financially.”

Wood also said the family was forced to relocate because of threats and harassment.

“We were forced to move because of death threats and harassment,” she said. “I had to go in my room and cry for two years so my children didn’t see.”

“It’s devastating because I’m not knowing if I would even be here when my son returned home,” his father, Terence Howard Sr., said.

The parents say their son was surrounded and attacked by a group of teens outside the movie theater before the situation escalated. They say he did not know the group beforehand and describe the incident as a life-threatening situation.

She and Howard Sr. maintain that their son was attacked before the shooting occurred and that he was acting in fear for his safety.

When describing what they believe went wrong in the case, Wood said she felt key evidence supporting self-defense was not properly considered.

“I believe there were critical failures in how his case was handled,” she said. “Evidence that supported my son’s self-defense was not properly weighed.”

Wood also said multiple individuals involved in the confrontation admitted to attacking her son.

“Three of the individuals who attacked my son admitted under oath to attacking him, but no charges have been filed,” she said.

She also questioned how her son was treated in the legal system because of his age.

“My son was never protected as a victim,” Wood said. “There was only one innocent bystander that night, and that was my son, because my son was underage with a weapon they focused on the underage part and not the self defense aspect of it.”

She added that she believes he should not have been tried as an adult.

“My son was 13 years old,” she said. “His age nor his maturity were considered at all.”

Wood described her son as kindhearted and said he is still struggling to process the outcome of the case.

“He’s still a child trying to process something so incredibly heavy,” she said.

The family also said they are now working with legal counsel as they consider next steps following the conviction.

“We are actively pursuing legal options,” Wood said. “We are committed to seeing this through the proper legal channels.”

The family has also launched a website, justiceforjunior.com, where they are sharing their perspective and asking for support as they continue navigating the legal process.