Mia Desiree Harris (Butler County Sheriff’s Office).
The terrifying incident took place on September 21, 2021, when the Butler County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence. Deputies and medics rushed to the scene to find the 1-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to her head. Despite the seriousness of the situation, first responders remained calm and focused on providing immediate medical assistance to the injured child.
Remarkably, the girl survived, though the injury had permanent consequences for her health. Defendant Harris recently pleaded guilty to a count of felonious assault. She is currently serving a sentence of nine to 12 years in prison and is eligible for parole in December 2032.
“During the incident Harris shot at several family members before intentionally shooting the child,” the Butler County Sheriff’s Office wrote in the news release.
Witnesses urgently told authorities about the badly injured baby and about Harris being the shooter.
“Mia Harris. Mia Harris,” a woman told law enforcement in footage dated Dec. 9, 2023. “Get her right now.”
A copy of the criminal complaint filed in Butler County Area 2 Court stated that Harris also “knowingly” caused “serious physical harm” to another victim, whose name is redacted, by “striking [that person] in the face with a fist.”
“Harris then broke down a locked bedroom door, after firing a handgun through the bedroom door multiple times,” the document stated.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones did not mince words when previously discussing the case with WXIX.
“It wasn’t an accident. It was on purpose. This is one of the most disgusting, vile criminal acts I’ve ever seen, shooting a 6-month-old baby. What makes it even worse is this is the baby’s grandmother,” Jones told the station. “She went and shot this child and doesn’t appear to have any remorse whatsoever. I feel sorry for the baby, the family, everybody that’s dealing with this. The doctors, the life squad people, the deputies, everybody. This is as bad as it gets.”
