Phoenix, Arizona – A 29-year-old woman is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly shooting a 4-year-old boy in the face during a domestic dispute tied to a breakup at a south Phoenix home earlier this month. The incident has left the child hospitalized with serious injuries and sparked renewed concerns over gun violence involving family-related conflicts, according to reports from ABC 15 and AZ Family.
Child Shot After Suspect Allegedly Threatened to “Shoot Up” Home
Phoenix police say the shooting occurred around 12:19 p.m. on Jan. 6 at a residence in south Phoenix. Officers responding to the scene found the child, later identified by family members as Qahsiem Sinclair, suffering from a gunshot wound to the face.
Investigators allege that Joanna Chalup Cortez threatened to “shoot up the house” before returning to the residence and opening fire. Court documents cited by AZ Family indicate the shooting stemmed from a dispute related to a breakup involving the child’s uncle, whom Chalup Cortez was reportedly dating.
Bullet Struck Child Near Front Door
According to family members and witness statements cited by ABC 15, the bullet passed through Qahsiem’s cheek, knocking out multiple teeth. A witness told FOX 10 that the bullet entered the left side of the child’s face.
Police said the boy was standing near the front door at the time of the shooting. His father, Meishaq Sinclair, told AZ Family that Qahsiem was attempting to follow his uncle outside when the gun was fired.
“My son, he thought when my brother was going outside, he thought it was time to go outside and grabbed his scooter,” Meishaq said.
Events Leading Up to the Shooting
Court records show Chalup Cortez had been at the home earlier that day before leaving and later returning. Prior to the incident, she was reportedly involved in an argument with another woman and later became upset over a social media livestream involving her boyfriend and Qahsiem’s father, according to AZ Family.
After returning to the home, witnesses told police she began honking her car horn and demanding that someone come outside. Meishaq Sinclair alleged that he saw Chalup Cortez pull out what appeared to be a rifle before firing toward the house.
Father Describes Chaotic Aftermath
Meishaq told ABC 15 that he was upstairs when he heard the gunshot and rushed downstairs to find his son bleeding heavily.
“I came downstairs and he was bleeding so much it was like a movie,” he said.
Emergency responders transported Qahsiem to the hospital, where police described his condition as involving “serious injuries.”
Suspect Allegedly Sent Texts After Shooting
Court documents cited by AZ Family state that Chalup Cortez contacted the child’s mother after the shooting, claiming she did not know the child was near the door at the time.
One message reportedly read, “IM GOING TO THE COPS DONT WORRY…,” while others said, “IM ON THE WAY…” and “BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW HE CAME OUT.”
Suspect Surrenders, Faces Multiple Charges
Chalup Cortez surrendered to police on Jan. 7. She has since been charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated assault and discharging a firearm at a residence, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
Authorities said the investigation remains active, but detectives do not believe there are any additional suspects involved.
Child Expected to Recover
Family members told AZ Family that Qahsiem is expected to survive. A GoFundMe created to assist with medical expenses states the child is stable, though his recovery will be long and difficult.
“He’s playing with his toys right now, still in shock,” Meishaq told ABC 15, adding that his son remains traumatized.
“If the bullet had been inches over, my son would not be here by now,” he said. “I thought that was my son’s last breath.”
