Father charged after accidental shooting death of 2-year-old son enters plea

HARRISON TWP. — UPDATE @ 9:40 a.m.:

A Harrison Twp. father facing several charges in connection to the accidental shooting death of his 2-year-old son, made an appearance in a Montgomery County court Tuesday morning.

>> Father and son charged in shooting death of 2-year-old in Harrison Twp. 

Jamahl N. Evans, 34, was arraigned in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on charges of involuntary manslaughter, child endangering, 10 counts of having weapons while under disability, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

RELATED: Family of 2-year-old accidentally shot by brother says life cut too short

Evans entered a not guilty plea and bond was set at $500,000.

Evans is facing local and federal charges after his two-year-old son, Jvontae Johnston, was allegedly accidentally  shot and killed by his 13-year-old brother on Wheeler Avenue June 4.

Evans remains booked in the Montgomery County Jail.

Evans’ 13-year-old son has been charged in Montgomery County Juvenile Court on a count of reckless homicide.

FIRST REPORT

A father who will be charged in connection to the shooting death of his 2-year-old son that occurred earlier this month is set to be arraigned today.

Jamahl N. Evans, 34, was indicted on multiple charges including involuntary manslaughter, endangering children, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and 10 counts of having weapons under disability, after his toddler son, Jvontae Johnston, was shot to death by his other 13-year-old son on June 4.

The 13-year-old was playing with his father’s loaded firearm he found under the kitchen sink inside their Harrison Twp. home on Wheeler Ave, when he discharged the weapon, striking and killing his younger brother, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.

The teen will be charged with one count of reckless homicide with a firearm specification. Due to his age, he cannot be tried as an adult, prosecutors said.

Previous reports mention that the 13-year-old was released from juvenile detention to his grandmother and is being subjected to electronic home monitoring.

At the time of the shooting, Evans was on probation for attempted felonious assault, possession of cocaine and having weapons under disability.

The arraignment will be this morning in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.