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Grandmother, who shot her 5-month-old granddaughter in the face after she missed her daughter’s head and then told cops she “crucified them,” was sentenced

Ohio – In a disturbing incident in Ohio, a 43-year-old woman, identified as M. Harris, was sentenced to nine to twelve years in prison after pleading guilty to shooting her 5-month-old granddaughter in the face. Harris was initially charged with three counts of felonious assault and improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation in connection with the shocking incident that took place on December 9. Last month she pleaded guilty to one count of felonious assault with a three-year gun specification, which will add to her sentence. The other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

In the early hours of December 9, at around 1:50 a.m., deputies from the sheriff’s office responded to a frantic 911 call. The caller, the infant’s mother, was heard pleading, “My baby’s been shot. My baby’s been shot.” When the dispatcher asked for clarification, she confirmed, “Yes… Lord, please save my baby.” First responders arrived to find the baby girl with a gunshot wound to the face. Sheriff R. Jones later confirmed that the child had been shot in the eye. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Fortunately, her condition improved beyond expectations, and she survived the life-threatening injury.

But the infant wasn’t the only target. Harris had also allegedly assaulted other family members that night. According to court documents, she “knowingly” caused serious physical harm to another person by striking them in the face with her fist. She then broke down a locked bedroom door after firing a handgun through it multiple times. According to a criminal complaint, Harris tried to shoot the baby’s mother in the head but missed and then shot (the baby) in the head at close range.

Witnesses at the scene identified Harris as the shooter. She fled before deputies arrived but was arrested shortly afterward. When asked about her actions, Harris showed no remorse. Detective D. Turner testified that when asked why she did it, she replied, “That was not my grandbaby. Sorry, not sorry.” She also claimed, “Her family was trying to take all of her money and then leave, and she was not going to allow that to happen. They crucified her, so she crucified them.”

Sheriff Jones expressed his outrage over the incident. “It wasn’t an accident. It was on purpose. This is one of the most disgusting, vile criminal acts I’ve ever seen,” he said. “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.”

By pleading guilty to one count of felonious assault with a three-year gun specification for the shot that hit the baby, she avoided trial. The remaining charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal. On October 29, 2024, Judge D. Haughey issued Harris’ sentence. During the trial, emotional testimonies were heard, including a victim impact statement from the 5-month-old girl’s mother, who expressed her profound betrayal and pain, stating, “I just want you to know that you changed her life forever, and what you did was wrong to my daughter. You held a gun over me and I loved you. You hurt me, you hurt my whole family.”

Despite an opportunity to address the court, Harris declined to speak. The prosecution highlighted her lack of remorse, which was evident in her interactions with law enforcement following the incident. Assistant Prosecutor B. Boos emphasized the severity of Harris’s actions during the sentencing phase, remarking on the extraordinary cruelty of the crime.

The incident has left the community and the victim’s family traumatized. Sheriff Jones expressed his revulsion at the crime, stating, “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 5-month-old baby. What makes it even worse is this is the baby’s grandmother.” He lamented the broad impact of the tragedy on all involved, from family members to medical and law enforcement personnel.

Meanwhile, the infant, who was just over 5 months old at the time of the shooting, has made a remarkable recovery. After spending critical days in the hospital, she has been released and is continuing to heal from her injuries. The swift legal proceedings have brought some closure to a horrifying event. As Harris begins her sentence, the legal closure provides little comfort against the backdrop of a family forever altered by a night of unfathomable violence. The community and the victim’s family continue to grapple with the consequences of that tragic evening, hoping for strength and healing for young Myra.

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