AZ Chalupa Shoots 4YO Boy In The Face During Break-Up

[Sugar Cookie]

Joanna Chalup Cortez, 29, stands accused of two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of discharging a firearm at a residence and disorderly conduct with a firearm, according to Maricopa County Sheriff's Office records.

Around noon on the day in question, the lone shot rang out and Qahsiem Sinclair was struck in the cheek, family told Phoenix-based ABC affiliate KNXV. Something of a miraculous trajectory saved the little boy's life as the bullet went in and out, striking some of his teeth.

What led up to the shooting allegedly began hours earlier that day, according to court documents obtained by independent Phoenix-based TV station KTVK and local CBS affiliate KPHO, which collectively broadcast as "Arizona's Family."

The boy's mother was hanging out with Chalup Cortez and another woman who previously dated the defendant's boyfriend, according to law enforcement. At some point, the defendant and the third woman began arguing, police said. Eventually, Chalup Cortez allegedly called her boyfriend to inform him she was kicking him out of her house.

At around 11 a.m., the women went to pick up the ex-boyfriend, police said. Then, all four drove to the Somo Lofts on Weir Avenue, where the women dropped the man off and subsequently drove off.

There, the man's brother lives with his girlfriend and son, Qahsiem.

At some point within the next hour, the two men began livestreaming on social media, police said. This content, however, was much to the chagrin of Chalup Cortez, court documents allege.

Next, the woman, apparently incensed, drove back to the apartment complex and began honking and demanding someone come outside, according to law enforcement. While being ignored, the defendant allegedly texted and called Qahsiem's mother, telling her that she was going to "shoot up the house," according to the court documents.

Eventually, the defendant parked outside, got out of her vehicle, shouted another demand along those lines, pulled out a rifle and fired, according to surveillance footage obtained by Arizona's Family.

By the time police arrived, Chalup Cortez had left the scene of the crime, police said. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was treated for the gunshot wound and is expected to recover.

The victim's family shared a social media post with Arizona's Family, which is said to have been written by the defendant in which she appears to take responsibility for the shooting but insists she did not mean to hurt the little boy.

I will be turning myself in because I did NOT intentionally hurt a CHILD," the post reads, in relevant part. "How can you say I feel no remorse when I didn't even know until I was called."

The defendant also allegedly pleaded her case with the boy's mother directly, the family said. Chalup Cortez allegedly sent the woman a series of text messages disclaiming knowledge that Qahsiem was outside at the time, Arizona's Family reported.


Those all-caps text messages read:

"IM GOING TO THE COPS DONT WORRY…"

"IM ON THE WAY…"

and

"BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW HE CAME OUT."

Read complete article here

Woman shot 4-year-old in the face amid dispute over breakup, police say

"She saw the kid right there and still decided to do what she did," the boy's father said.

lawandcrime.com