A Philadelphia toddler who was shot several times when his father brought him to a drug deal as protection, has died.
Yaseem Jenkins, who was just 11 months at the time of the shooting, died on Tuesday, according to a statement by his family.
Philadelphia’s district attorney said they are awaiting an inquest report to establish the cause of death, but said they have reason to believe the three-year-old died due to his original injuries from the incident three years ago.
“I want to express my deepest condolences for the loss of Yaseem to his family. This is a tough moment,” he told journalists at a press conference.
Investigators said Yaseem was in a car with his father, Nafes Monroe, and Monroe’s girlfriend at the time of the drug deal.
They allege Monroe brought his son, because he was paying with fake money and the baby was there as a human shield from violence.
During the exchange, another man named Francisco Ortiz allegedly began firing a gun.
The infant was shot in the head, torso and rear of his body.
Ortiz was charged with attempted murder.
The father Monroe was accused of using his son as a “human shield” by the District Attorney Office.
“It’s our belief and our investigation has led us to believe that he intentionally had his child with him when he was making such purchases with the idea or belief that if someone saw that he had a child in the car, they would not fire upon him,” a spokesperson from the office’s Homicide Unit.
Monroe was charged with recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child, to which he pleaded guilty for both counts.
The District Attorney said on Saturday that if the cause of death is found to be from the original injuries, Monroe could face additional charges.