PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A young child whom authorities said was used as a human shield by his father more than two years ago has died from his gunshot wounds.
Investigators are waiting for autopsy results before they can charge a man already in custody for the boy’s murder, and this shooting death is connected to the murder of another toddler.
On October 19, 2019, Yazeem Jenkins was 11 months old when he was shot in the head, chest, and twice in the backside while with his father, Nafes Monroe.
Officials said Monroe used the child to protect him as he bought drugs with counterfeit cash.
Jenkins, who was three years old, died this week.
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Authorities arrested Fransisco Ortiz, whom they say drove by North Seventh and West Luzerne streets that day and shot at a group that included Monroe and Jenkins’ stepmother.
Ortiz was arrested and charged with more than two dozen offenses including aggravated assault and gun offenses. He has been scheduled for trial in June, but now that the toddler has died, murder charges may be filed.
Authorities also believe Ortiz gave Freddie Perez and Tayvon Thomas the AK-47 that killed 3-year-old Nikolette Rivera. She was fatally shot in the head while in her mother’s arms, one day after Jenkins was shot.
Perez pleaded guilty to attempted murder and related offenses and was waiting to be sentenced.
Thomas pleaded guilty to Rivera’s murder and was sentenced to spend 55 to 100 years in prison, but he died by suicide two weeks after his sentencing.
Detectives expect the little boy’s autopsy to be completed in the next few days.
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Related podcast: The grief mothers endure after their children have been killed by gun violence.
