3-Year-Old Boy Whose Father Used Him As A Human Shield In 2019 Pennsylvania Shooting Dies

Toddler Who Was Used By Father As ‘Human Shield’ In 2019 Philadelphia Shooting Dies

Yaseem Jenkins, the toddler who was used as a “human shield” by his father during a 2019 drug-related shooting in Philadelphia, sadly died on Tuesday. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said at a press conference Friday;

“We are awaiting a medical examiner’s report on the cause of death, but we have reason to believe the cause of death is his original injury from that shooting.”

Jenkins, 3, was just 11 months old when he was shot in several areas including his head, neck, and buttocks after his father, Nafes Monroe, allegedly tried to buy drugs with counterfeit cash in the city’s Hunting Park section, PEOPLE reports citing KYWTV.

During the exchange, the alleged shooter, Francisco Ortiz, opened fire on Monroe after the drug deal went sour. Baby Jenkins was struck a total of four times.

“He was using counterfeit money to purchase drugs knowing that counterfeit money is very upsetting to drug dealers, and when they find out they’re being burned with counterfeit money, they act violently,” Anthony Voci, Homicide Unit Chief with the District Attorney’s Office, told KYW in 2019.

He also said at the time, “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 added. “A human shield is probably the term that I would use.”

The 2019 shooting left Jenkins in critical condition. The initial prognosis for the child was very heartbreaking.