Today Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced the felony child endangering indictment of Martez Jones. Jones left a loaded gun in reach of a 5-year-old who used it to accidentally shoot her 7-month-old sister.

Jones, 22, the father of the two children involved in the shooting and a third child who was present during the shooting, is facing three charges of child endangering in the April 19 shooting. The charge related to the infant is a felony.

At around 9 p.m. that day Jones left a loaded pistol on the windowsill of a West Price Hill residence while going to the restroom, according to authorities. The three children were watching television in the room where the gun was left. The infant, who was in a car seat at the time, suffered a leg injury and was treated at the hospital.

The children’s mother was present, but not in the room at the time.

“Thankfully the infant was not more seriously harmed,” said Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich. “This shows that no gun should ever be within reach of a child, not even for what seems like a brief period. Tragic gun incidents take only seconds to unfold.”



The felony child endangering charge carries a penalty of between 9 and 36 months in prison.