A 43-year-old grandmother from Liberty Township, Ohio, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of felonious assault.
The accused, Mia Desiree Harris, is facing charges for shooting her six-month-old granddaughter. The incident occurred on the morning of Saturday, December 9, 2023, inside a townhouse located on Dutchview Court in Liberty Township.
Sheriff Richard Jones of Butler County reported that the baby girl received a gunshot wound in the face, to her eye. This incident has been classified by officials as a premeditated act of violence, rather than an accidental shooting.
Sheriff’s Office Detective Dan Turner testified that Harris, after shooting the infant, handed her to a family member with a smile on her face.
Following reports of an infant shot, deputies arrived at the scene. They found the gravely injured baby and immediately rushed her to UC West Chester Hospital. She was later operated on twice at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
A family dispute that escalated into violence is believed to be the backdrop of this incident. Harris is said to have first shot at her daughter during the altercation, and missed, before targeting the infant. She broke into a locked bedroom by shooting through the door and then shot the baby, who was on a bed, from a short distance.
Harris fled the scene after the shooting. However, she was later captured by deputies following a brief pursuit, close to the townhouse.
In her first court appearance, the severity of the baby’s condition was communicated to the judge by the prosecutor. Harris’ bond is set at $1.5 million, and she has been ordered by the court to avoid minors and the victims should she be released.
The investigation is ongoing, with the reasons behind the shooting still to be ascertained.
