PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A judge has decided to uphold most of the charges against the woman accused of lying to police about a shooting that injured her 3-year-old-son in Grays Ferry earlier this year.
Judge David Shuter found there was enough evidence to charge 23-year-old Laylaah Muhammad with endangering the welfare of a child, unsworn falsifying, tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice and false reports. An earlier conspiracy charge was dismissed.
Prosecutors say Muhammad lied to police, telling them the child was shot by two men on the street. Video from a Southwest Philly home showed the child inside playing with a firearm before he was shot in the face.
Two others are charged in the incident, including the child's father.
Muhammad's arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 31.
Editor's update, March 28, 2024
In a negotiated deal, Laylaah Muhammad pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of children and obstruction of justice. She was sentenced to 11 ½ to 23 months in prison, with two years probation. Muhammed must also complete mental health evaluations and cannot contact James Weldon or Justin Rowley, who was also charged in the case.
Rowley pleaded guilty in February to gun and weapons charges and was also sentenced to up to two years behind bars and two years probation, as part of a negotiated deal with prosecutors. He was ordered to complete the Goldring Reentry Initiative, an intensive trauma therapy created to help people jumpstart their lives after prison.
