A 43-year-old grandmother from Liberty Township, Ohio, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of felonious assault.
Mia Desiree Harris stands accused of intentionally shooting her six-month-old granddaughter. This incident occurred early on Saturday, December 9, 2023, in a townhouse on Dutchview Court, Liberty Township.
The infant sustained a gunshot wound to the eye, as reported by Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones. Authorities have determined the shooting to be a calculated act of violence, ruling out any accidental causes.
Detective Dan Turner, from the Sheriff’s Office, disclosed in court that after shooting her granddaughter, Harris smiled and passed the baby to a relative.
Deputies were alerted to the shooting of an infant and promptly arrived at the scene. They found the baby in critical condition and transported her urgently to UC West Chester Hospital. She was later transferred to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and underwent two surgeries. As of December 14, the infant was in the ICU in critical condition.
The background of the shooting appears to be a family argument that turned violent. According to the allegations, Harris shot at her daughter and other family members during the argument but missed, then directed the gun at the baby. She forcefully entered a locked bedroom, shooting through the door, and then shot the baby at close range while the infant was on a bed.
Harris fled the scene following the shooting but was later apprehended by deputies after a short chase near the townhouse.
In her initial court hearing, the prosecutor highlighted the grave state of the baby. A bond of $1.5 million was set for Harris, who has also been ordered to stay away from minors and the victims if she is released.
The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, with no clear reason yet identified.