PHOENIX, AZ – A Phoenix toddler is recovering after being shot in the face at his family’s Phoenix apartment, in an incident that has left his loved ones reeling and seeking answers.
Four-year-old Qahsiem Sinclair was struck by a single bullet on January 6 while playing near the entrance of his home near 29th Street and Weir Avenue, according to police and relatives. The round entered Qahsiem’s cheek and exited without causing fatal injuries, but it damaged several teeth and left the boy traumatized.
Family members described the chaos and fear as they rushed to help the child in the immediate aftermath. Qahsiem’s father, Meishaq Sinclair, said he initially feared for his son’s life as he saw the blood. He recalls feeling a sense of disbelief that his son survived the ordeal. “Just by inches, my son would not be here by now,” Sinclair said.
Qahsiem was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors determined his injuries were not life-threatening. Still, the physical wounds and emotional shock continue to weigh heavily on the Sinclair family.
According to investigators, the gunfire stemmed from a conflict involving several adults who had gathered at the apartment complex earlier that day. Authorities allege that Joanna Chalup Cortez, 29, returned to the residence in anger after an earlier altercation. Surveillance video showed a car pull up, followed by a woman exiting and firing a rifle toward the home.
In the moments before the shooting, police say Cortez sent threatening messages to Qahsiem’s mother, warning she would “shoot up the house.” Despite those messages, Cortez later claimed she did not intend to harm a child and was unaware that Qahsiem was near the doorway.
Family members dispute that claim, insisting Cortez had a clear view of the child exiting with a scooter just before the shot was fired. “She saw the kid right there and still decided to do what she did. We need justice for Qahsiem,” Meishaq Sinclair said.
After the incident, Cortez allegedly fled the scene but surrendered to authorities several days later. She now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault and discharging a firearm at a residence, and is being held on $500,000 bond in Maricopa County Jail.
Qahsiem’s relatives have since started a fundraising campaign to assist with mounting medical expenses and ongoing therapy. The family says the shooting has left scars beyond the physical wounds, with the young boy still shaken and hesitant even to play with his toys.
Neighbours and community members have also voiced concerns about violence in the area, with some calling for increased security measures at the complex.
As the criminal case moves forward, Qahsiem’s family remains focused on his recovery and the hope that justice will be served. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the events leading up to the shooting to determine whether any additional charges will be filed.