Earlier this week, 3-year-old Yassim Jenkins, who was allegedly used as a “human shield” by his father during a shooting in Philadelphia in 2019, died.
Jenkins was 11 months old at the time of the shooting.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner shared the tragic news during a news conference on Thursday, April 21. Krasner confirmed the death of the young child.
“We are waiting for the forensic doctor’s report on the cause of death, but we have reason to believe that the cause of death was his initial injury from this shooting,” Krasner explained.
On October 19, 2019, Nafes Monroe took his son with him on a drug deal with Francisco Ortiz, according to Anthony Vosi Jr., head of the homicide department of the Philadelphia District Attorney. At a news conference, Voci said Monroe was using counterfeit money in a drug deal and believed his son’s presence would deter violence.
“It is our belief and our investigation has led us to believe that he deliberately had his child with him when he made these kinds of purchases with the idea or belief that if someone saw that he had a child in the car, he would not shoot him, “Voci said then.” … Human shield is probably the term I would use. “
A police spokesman told NBC News that Yassim had received gunshot wounds to the head, torso and back of the body. Voci said the child was not rushed to hospital after the shooting, but was taken home.
The following month, Monroe was arrested in connection with the shooting and charged with recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Voci. According to court documents reviewed by DNES, Monroe pleaded guilty to both charges.
Krasner did not say whether Monroe would be charged in connection with his son’s death. A lawyer named Monroe in the 2019 application was not immediately available for comment on Saturday morning.
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Ortiz is accused of attempted murder, aggravated assault and related crimes, according to court documents reviewed by DNES. According to the documents, he is awaiting trial, scheduled for June 2022, and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Krasner said Ortiz could also be charged with murder, pending information from a forensic doctor investigating Yasim’s death.
“Our office has already been prepared for two separate trials involving the man we claim is responsible for his shooting … If it turns out that the medical examiner decides that Yasim’s untimely and unnatural death was a direct result of his injuries from two years ago, we will be ready to further charge Mr Ortiz with murder, “Krasner said.
A lawyer named Ortiz in court documents was not immediately available for comment on Saturday.
Krasner described the death as a “difficult moment” after expressing his condolences to the child’s family. He also confirmed that many units had contacted Yassim’s family to offer support, including offering funeral assistance.
“Yassim struggled long and hard to recover from his injuries while still the strong happy child he was, but unfortunately lost the battle yesterday morning,” wrote GoFundMe, organized on behalf of the family.
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