Father charged in shooting that injured 3-year-old, warrant issued for his arrest
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee man is facing a child neglect charge after his 3-year-old was shot and seriously injured. Court records show a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Twenty-four-year-old Esaius Brooks is charged with neglecting a child, consequence is great bodily harm, as well as two counts of bail jumping.
According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to a hospital for a shooting on May 16, 2024. The 3-year-old victim sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Officers spoke with the child's mother, who stated her son was in the care of his father, Brooks, at his home.
She said she was trying to get in contact with Brooks to pick up the 3-year-old, per complaint, when she learned the 3-year-old was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound. She said Brooks was not with the child and she did not know why he wasn't there, according to the complaint.
The complaint says Brooks spoke to the child's mother on the phone and said as he was making the 3-year-old something to eat, the child got on top of a chair and on the counter. Brooks reportedly stated that someone else's gun was sitting on top of the air fryer. He said he did not see the child grab the gun before it went off, and that his gun was nowhere near it.
Officers spoke to Brooks' sister, who lives at the same address. She said Brooks was present the day of the shooting. According to the complaint, she said she was in the bedroom cleaning and listening to music when she heard a loud pop come from the kitchen area. She then saw the 3-year-old bleeding from his chest area. She said the child was alone in the kitchen and there was no gun present.
The 3-year-old spoke to investigators. When asked about his injury to the stomach, the child said, "Daddy, daddy popped it," according to the complaint.
When asked what Brooks "popped," the 3-year-old said, "the gun." The 3-year-old clarified the "black gun" was on "the table," according to the complaint.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Brooks' residence. Officers located his ID card, a black Glock magazine, and a potential bullet strike in the ground near the table.