Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in November 2019.

In a disturbing incident in Philadelphia, a 25-year-old father is facing serious charges after allegedly using his 11-month-old son as a “human shield” during a drug deal that escalated into a shooting, leaving the infant critically injured. Nafes Monroe was arrested and charged with recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child over the weekend.

The incident unfolded on October 19 when Monroe, his 11-month-old son Yazeem Jenkins, his girlfriend, and another man were driving in North Philadelphia. Near the 700 block of West Luzerne Street, their vehicle was targeted by a gunman, identified as 29-year-old Francisco Ortiz, who fired multiple shots at the car. The baby was struck once in the head, once in the neck, and twice in the buttocks.

Rather than seeking immediate medical attention for his critically injured son, Monroe allegedly drove to a residence on the 4900 block of North Camac Street, approximately 10 minutes away. Subsequently, he dropped the child off at the Einstein Medical Center and departed. Yazeem Jenkins was later transferred to St. Christopher’s Hospital, where he remains in critical condition nearly a month after the incident.

Police revealed that Monroe, who was the intended target of the shooting, had been using counterfeit money to buy drugs with his son present during the drug deal turned violent. Anthony Voci Jr., Chief of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Homicide Unit, stated during a press conference that Monroe intentionally had his child with him, possibly as a tactic to avoid violence during drug transactions.

“It’s our belief and our investigation has directed us to believe that he deliberately 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,” Voci explained.

While Monroe currently faces charges related to reckless endangerment, he has not been charged specifically for using counterfeit money in the drug transaction. Voci mentioned that Monroe had a history of using fake currency in drug transactions, and investigators found counterfeit money in the vehicle involved in the shooting.

Monroe was also wanted on a probation violation warrant at the time of the incident, adding to the legal complications he now faces.

The accused gunman, Francisco Ortiz, was arrested later, and police suggested he might have supplied the Ak-47 used in another tragic incident on October 20, where a 2-year-old, Nikolette Rivera, lost her life in a separate act of gun violence. The incidents highlight the devastating toll of recent gun violence in Philadelphia, particularly affecting young victims.

Sources: NBC Philadelphia