Featured image via Shutterstock and does not show Yaseem Jenkins. Photo for illustrative purposes only.
A Philadelphia toddler, who was used by his father as a human shield during a shooting in 2019, has passed away.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner revealed that 3-year-old Yaseem Jenkins’ death was most likely due to his injuries sustained from the shooting years earlier.
“We are awaiting a medical examiner’s report on the cause of death, but we have reason to believe his cause of death is his original injury,” Krasner said.
Jenkins was 11 months old when his father, Nafes Monroe, 25, used him as a shield during a drug deal gone wrong, according to KYW-TV.
“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,” Homicide Unit Chief with the District Attorney’s Office, Anthony Voci, said in a 2019 interview.
According to WPVI-TV, Jenkins was hit four times, including one shot to the head.
The shooting left Jenkins in critical condition.
At the time of the shooting, Monroe was arrested for his involvement and police charged him with reckless endangerment of another person and endangering the welfare of a child.
Monroe later pleaded guilty to both charges.
During the press conference Thursday, Kranser said that Monroe could face additional charges if the medical examiner’s report says that Jenkins’ death was caused by the injuries from the shooting.
“Yaseem fought long and hard to recover from his injuries while still being the strong happy kid he was, but sadly lost the battle,” reads the GoFundMe campaign to help cover Jenkins’ funeral costs. “It saddens us to have to lay him to rest at such a young age. Our family is devastated and heartbroken by his unexpected passing.”
So far, the GoFundMe has raised over 12,000 dollars.
