Father Charged in Connection With 3-Year-Old's Shooting

A Chicago man has been arrested in connection with the accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son Friday in the Garfield Park neighborhood.

James Jenkins, 26, was charged with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and possession of a weapon by felon and a parolee.

Investigators say Jenkins owned the gun that the boy foundin a home in the 4300 block of West Monroe and was shot when either he or a playmate handled the weapon.

The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

“Everybody is just in shock right now,” the boy’s aunt Annette Garvin said on Friday. “We are trying to put everything together.”

One neighbor said two people were sitting on the front porch of the home at the time of the shooting.

“There was a boom and they ran inside,” the neighbor said.

Tammy McNeal said she was driving when she saw people running towards the middle of the block.

“Then I heard screams, ‘someone’s been shot,’” McNeal said.

Neatre Strong, the boy’s grandmother, said James was a very active child.

“He loves pizza and music,” Strong said.

Ardell Strong, the boy’s great uncle, said the youngster “was a good kid — an average every day kid who liked to play video games.”

Strong added, “This should have never happened.”