A 43-year-old grandmother was arrested in Ohio over the weekend after she allegedly shot her 6-month-old granddaughter in the face, a horrific act that authorities believe was done intentionally.
Mia D. Harris was taken into custody early Saturday morning and charged with three counts of felonious assault as her granddaughter remains in the hospital fighting for her life, records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Authorities emphasized that the current charges filed against Harris are “subject to change as the investigation continues.”
Mia D. Harris (Butler County Sheriff’s Office)
According to a news release from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, deputies at about 1:50 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 responded to an emergency call regarding “an infant being shot” at a residence located in the 6000 block of Dutch View Court in Liberty Township, which is about 25 miles north of Cincinnati.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they located the victim — a 6-month-old baby girl who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head. The child — whose name has not been disclosed — was found in critical condition and immediately transported to UC West Chester Hospital for treatment.
Authorities say that Harris was quickly named as the main suspect in the shooting after several witnesses identified her to detectives as the alleged shooter. She allegedly fled before the arrival of deputies, but was located and taken into custody without incident “a short time” after the incident, per the release.
The infant victim was not the only family member Harris allegedly attempted to harm.
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“During the incident Harris shot at several family members before intentionally shooting the child,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the release. “The child remains in critical condition at this time.”
A copy of the criminal complaint filed in Butler County Area 2 Court states that Harris also “knowingly” caused “serious physical harm” to another victim, whose name is redacted, by “striking [that person] in the face with a fist.”
“Harris then broke down a locked bedroom door, after firing a handgun through the bedroom door multiple times,” the document states.
Harris shot her granddaughter in the face after shooting through and breaking down the door, Cincinnati CBS and CW affiliate WKRC reported.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones did not mince words when discussing the case with Cincinnati Fox affiliate WXIX on Saturday.
“It wasn’t an accident. It was on purpose. This is one of the most disgusting, vile criminal acts I’ve ever seen, shooting a 6-month-old baby. What makes it even worse is this is the baby’s grandmother,” Jones reportedly told the station. “She went and shot this child and doesn’t appear to have any remorse whatsoever. I feel sorry for the baby, the family, everybody that’s dealing with this. The doctors, the life squad people, the deputies, everybody. This is as bad as it gets.”
The sheriff also addressed the unnamed victim’s condition.
“The baby is hanging onto life as we speak. It’s in God’s hands now. We should all pray for this 6-month-old baby,” he reportedly said. “Imagine doing surgery on that small of a child, where these crazy people do these things to kids. It’s disgusting, and it’s one of the worst things I’ve seen.”
During her arraignment on Monday, prosecutors said the baby was in “grave condition,” Cincinnati NBC affiliate WLWT reported.
Jail records show that Harris is currently being held on $1.5 million bond.
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