Three-year-old Yaseem Jenkins, who survived a drug-related shooting in 2019, died on Tuesday. Prosecutors are awaiting results from the medical examiner to determine the cause of death.
Jenkins was just 11 months old when he was shot in the head, neck, and buttocks after his father, Nafes Monroe, allegedly used him as a human shield while attempting to use counterfeit money to buy drugs in North Philadelphia, CBS Philly reported.
Monroe was arrested and charged with recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child.
“Our investigation has led us to believe that he intentionally had his child with him when he was making such types of purchases with the idea or belief that if someone saw that he had a child in the car, that they would not fire upon him,” Anthony Voci of the district attorney’s office said at the time.
“A human shield is probably the term that I would use,” he added.
While Jenkins was in critical condition after the shooting, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Thursday afternoon that his office is awaiting results from the medical examiner to determine the toddler’s cause of death.
“We have reason to believe the cause of death is his original injury from the shooting,” Krasner said.
The alleged shooter, 29-year-old Francisco Ortiz, was charged with attempted murder. Krasner said additional charges, including murder, could be filed if Jenkins died from injuries he sustained during the shooting, leading to two separate trials for Ortiz.
Ortiz is also connected to the deadly shooting of 2-year-old Nikoletta Rivera after reportedly using the same weapon he used to shoot Jenkins. Police said Rivera died after being shot in the head while shooting multiple rounds into her North Philadelphia home. Authorities believe Ortiz gave the shooters the same weapon he used in the previous shooting, per New York Post.
