A US man has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after he allegedly used his son as a human shield in a drug deal gone wrong.
The man, identified as Nafes Monroe, a 25-year-old from Hunting Park, Philadelphia, brought his 11-month-old son Yazeem Jenkins in the car with him when he went to buy the drugs.
As Monroe was using counterfeit money, he allegedly believed the presence of his child would protect him from the drug dealer he was planning to con, reports local media.
After discovering the money was fake, the drug dealer allegedly opened fire, shooting the boy four times.
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"Our investigation has led us to believe that he intentionally had his child with him when he was making such types of purchases," said Anthony Voci, head of the District Attorney's Office Homicide Unit, in a news conference.
"A 'human shield' is probably the term that I would use."
Monroe drove the child to a house before taking him to hospital and fleeing, police say.
The alleged gunman, Francisco Ortiz, 29, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder.
The boy is in a critical condition.
Newshub.
