Woman aimed at her granddaughter’s mother but missed, then shot the 5-month-old girl in the face because she couldn’t allow her family to take all of her money; grandmother pleads guilty
Ohio – In a disturbing incident in Ohio, a 43-year-old woman, identified as M. Harris, has pleaded guilty to felonious assault after admitting to shooting her 5-month-old granddaughter in the face. Harris was initially charged with three counts of felonious assault and improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation in connection with the shocking incident that took place on December 9. On Tuesday, she pleaded guilty to one count of felonious assault with a three-year gun specification, which will add to her sentence. The other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
In the early hours of December 9, at around 1:50 a.m., deputies from the sheriff’s office responded to a frantic 911 call. The caller, the infant’s mother, was heard pleading, “My baby’s been shot. My baby’s been shot.” When the dispatcher asked for clarification, she confirmed, “Yes… Lord, please save my baby.” First responders arrived to find the baby girl with a gunshot wound to the face. Sheriff R. Jones later confirmed that the child had been shot in the eye. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Fortunately, her condition improved beyond expectations, and she survived the life-threatening injury.
But the infant wasn’t the only target. Harris had also allegedly assaulted other family members that night. According to court documents, she “knowingly” caused serious physical harm to another person by striking them in the face with her fist. She then broke down a locked bedroom door after firing a handgun through it multiple times. According to a criminal complaint, Harris tried to shoot the baby’s mother in the head but missed and then shot (the baby) in the head at close range.
Witnesses at the scene identified Harris as the shooter. She fled before deputies arrived but was arrested shortly afterward. When asked about her actions, Harris showed no remorse. Detective D. Turner testified that when asked why she did it, she replied, “That was not my grandbaby. Sorry, not sorry.” She also claimed, “Her family was trying to take all of her money and then leave, and she was not going to allow that to happen. They crucified her, so she crucified them.”
Sheriff Jones expressed his outrage over the incident. “It wasn’t an accident. It was on purpose. This is one of the most disgusting, vile criminal acts I’ve ever seen,” he said. “She went and shot this child and doesn’t appear to have any remorse whatsoever. I feel sorry for the baby, the family, everybody that’s dealing with this. The doctors, the life squad people, the deputies, everybody. This is as bad as it gets.”
Initially scheduled to go to trial on September 30, Harris entered a guilty plea on Tuesday. By pleading guilty to one count of felonious assault with a three-year gun specification for the shot that hit the baby, she avoided trial. The remaining charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal. Harris now faces up to 15 years in prison when she is sentenced on October 29. The gun specification will add three years to her sentence, ensuring she serves a significant amount of time behind bars.
Meanwhile, the infant, who was just over 5 months old at the time of the shooting, has made a remarkable recovery. After spending critical days in the hospital, she has been released and is continuing to heal from her injuries. The swift legal proceedings have brought some closure to a horrifying event. As Harris awaits sentencing, the focus remains on the well-being of the young victim and her family as they work towards healing and recovery.
