A 43-year-old grandmother from Ohio, Mia Desiree Harris, is facing multiple charges of felonious assault for allegedly intentionally shooting her five-month-old granddaughter in the face. The incident occurred early Saturday at a townhouse in Liberty Township.
According to Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, the baby girl sustained a gunshot wound to the eye, and authorities believe it was a deliberate act. Jones stated, “It wasn’t an accident; it was on purpose,” in an interview with FOX19 NOW.
Police responded to a call reporting an infant being shot at around 1:50 a.m. on December 9. Upon arrival, officers found the injured child and rushed her to UC West Chester Hospital, where she is listed in critical condition.
Following the shooting, Harris reportedly fled the scene but was later apprehended without incident. Witnesses identified her as the shooter, alleging that she shot at several family members before intentionally targeting the child, as indicated in the Butler County Sheriff’s press release.
Details from a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE reveal that Harris forcibly entered a locked bedroom, fired a handgun through the door multiple times, and then shot the infant at close range while she lay on the bed.
Butler County Sheriff Jones expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “The baby is hanging onto life as we speak. It’s in God’s hands now,” according to WLWT.
Mia Harris’s bond was set at $1.5 million on Monday, and she is scheduled for a court appearance on Wednesday. As of now, it is unclear whether Harris has entered a plea or retained legal representation.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.