Compton father of 9-year-old shot outside grandfather's house is arrested
The father of a 9-year-old boy who was shot and killed outside of his grandfather's house in Compton on Saturday evening has been arrested, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced Monday.
Detectives identified 32-year-old Compton resident Nicholas Jones as a suspect. He was arrested on Sunday for murder and child abuse resulting in death, detectives said.
On Saturday, Nov. 30 around 7:30 p.m., deputies from Compton Sheriff's Station responded to the 15000 block of South Haskins Avenue regarding a person shot. The victim was 9-year-old Princeton Jones who was found in the backyard of the residence, suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services issued the following statement:
"While we understand the public's interest in children from the community who may have received supportive services from DCFS, state law prohibits us from commenting on our possible involvement with families. Confidentiality laws protect children and families from emotional distress and stigmatization while complex family issues are resolved."
Prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office claim he intentionally shot his son but did not reveal a motive during Jones' arraignment. He pleaded not guilty and will be held on a $3.025 million bail until his preliminary hearing on Jan. 7, 2025.
Jones was booked at East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station. The investigation is ongoing and there is no additional information available at this time.
"Our hearts go out to the family as they cope with this tremendous loss," Compton city officials wrote. "We encourage anyone with more information to call the LA County Sheriff's Department at (310) 605-6500."
