Cranston Father Charged With Shooting His 4-Year-Old Son In The Head

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston man was arrested after police said he accidentally shot his 4-year-old son in the head at his apartment on Tuesday morning.

Michael A. Jones, 33, was charged with felony assault, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (convicted of a crime of violence, and firing in a compact area.

Around 10:12 a.m. Cranston police and fire officials received a 911 call from a man about his 4-year-old grandson being shot at Jones' apartment on Queen Street. Police said the caller told dispatchers Jones was responsible for the shooting.

Officers arrived and found Jones holding his son, who had a gunshot wound on his head, police said. The boy was rushed to Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, where he remains in critical condition, as of Tuesday night, according to police.

"A tragedy like this hits home with our first responders, many of whom have children of their own," Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist said. "Our thoughts are with the young boy and his family as he fights for survival."

Following an investigation from the Cranston Police Special Victims Unit, officers learned Jones was inside a second-floor bedroom of his apartment handling a loaded 9-mm handgun. According to police, Jones said he accidentally shot the gun, causing a bullet to travel through the wall and hit in son in an adjacent room. Police said they searched the home and found the loaded gun used in the shooting.

Jones was convicted of felony assault in June 2022 and was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence and probation. Police said Jones was prohibited from owning a gun, and how he got it remains under investigation.

"This case is particularly difficult for all involved given the age of the victim and highlights the need to keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited individuals," Winquist said.

Jones was arraigned at the Cranston Police Department and will be prosecuted by the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office for violating a suspended sentence, police said.

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