Bonita Williams said her son repeatedly told her he thought someone was going to try to kill him over an incident that happened nearly 3 years ago. 

Her son, Delaghno Overton, Jr., 25, was found dead in central Toledo Wednesday.

A passer-by found Overton’s body near a bushy area, close to a set of railroad tracks, at about 2:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Maplewood Avenue and Castle Boulevard, near Detroit Avenue, said Toledo Police Department spokesman Lt. Kevan Toney. It was unclear how long his body had been there, police said.

An autopsy found Overton suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was shot in the head, chest, left arm, and left leg. His death is a homicide, according to the Lucas County Coroner's Office. 

“They shot my baby,” Mrs. Williams, 47, repeated to herself through sobs. She wrapped her arms around herself while her husband, Lynell Williams, sat next to her on the couch and rubbed her back. 

“He didn’t deserve this. He was caring,” the mother said. 

Overton was home less than 10 days after serving two years in prison before he was killed. 

Mr. and Mrs. Williams picked up Overton April 10 from the state facility in Mansfield. He was sent to prison for having weapons under disability and participating in criminal gang activity from a December, 2015, incident. 

Mrs. Williams said she believes that incident — which involved guns and theft of money — has something to do with his death. Overton told her before, during, and after prison he thought someone would try to harm him, she said. 

“He said, ‘Ma, they’re trying to kill me,’” Mrs. Williams recalled. 

Police continue to investigate. 

“We’re aware of his history and we’re looking into all possibilities for suspects and motive,” Lieutenant Toney said.

Mrs. Williams said she believes her son was on the right path after his incarceration. Because he was on parole, he knew he wasn’t supposed to be involved with or around members of gangs, she said.

On Tuesday evening, Mrs. Williams dropped her son off at a friend’s house on Glenwood Avenue. Before he got out of the car, she asked if he was OK.

“He’s like, ‘Ma, I’m cool. I’m cool,’” she recalled. 

But she said she got a strange feeling and she tried contacting him. His phone went right to voicemail later that night, she said. 

On Wednesday, she drove back to the friend’s home to look for her son, but a man at the residence told her Overton left. 

His body was found not far from the friend’s Glenwood Avenue home, she said. Overton’s ex-girlfriend went to the scene after seeing a heavy police presence in the area and identified Overton by a photo, Mrs. Williams said. 

“I was praying and hoping it wasn’t him,” Mrs. Williamson said.

But she watched officials carry her son away in a body bag. 

Overton was looking forward to coming home to see family, his mother said. She cooked a large meal and invited family and friends over to welcome him home.  

“He loved to keep people smiling,” she said.

RELATED: The Blade’s 2018 homicide report

No arrests have been made as of Thursday. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stopper program at 419-255-1111.

Overton’s death is the 15th homicide this year in the Toledo area. 

Contact Allison Dunn at adunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6506 or on Twitter @AllisonDBlade.

First Published April 26, 2018, 10:40 a.m.