CLAYTON, N.C. -- Police in Johnston County have accused a woman in the shooting death of her son on Christmas Day. 

On Wednesday, the Clayton Police Department charged 57-year-old Elizabeth Wilkins Yarborough with second-degree murder in the death of 32-year-old James Benjamin Yarborough Jr. 

Police say Elizabeth Yarborough called officers to her home at the Riverwood Haven Senior Apartments and told them that her son had shot himself with his own gun.

Clayton’s Police Chief Blair Myhand said investigators believe Yarborough meant to kill her son.

“It really boils down to intent. We knew without a shadow of a doubt that she had shot her son,” said Myhand. “That was not in question but again it’s not necessarily what you know. It’s what you can prove and we needed to be able to prove that this was a homicide and not an accidental shooting.”

Yarborough made her first court appearance Thursday morning where she waived a public defender opting for an attorney she has already hired.

There's no word yet on her next appearance.