Mom’s boyfriend charged in death of 2-year-old boy who shot himself in Pullman

A Chicago man is charged in the death of a 2-year-old boy who fatally shot himself Sunday afternoon in Pullman on the Far South Side.

The toddler’s death appeared to be one of two shooting deaths during the long holiday Memorial Day weekend; citywide, 38 people were injured from shootings.

Johnny R. Hughes, 31, is charged with child endangerment resulting in death, possession of a firearm as a repeat felon, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon.

Hughes, who is the boyfriend of the toddler Jamonte Shaw’s mother, was ordered held in jail during a detention hearing Tuesday.

Jamonte shot himself in the head about 12:40 p.m. Sunday at a home in the 900 block of East 104th Street, police said. Jamonte, who lived in the same block, was taken in critical condition to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:31 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy is pending.

According to Hughes’ arrest report, two police officers found the toddler unresponsive and lying on the ground with a single gunshot wound to the head. His mom and Hughes were on the couch and when the officers asked where the gun was found, according to the police report. Hughes showed them to the back bedroom, where the loaded gun, a 9mm semi-automatic Taurus G3 with a laser attachment, was folded between two layers of clothing on a top shelf of a bedroom closet, according to the report.

It was not clear from the report how the toddler was able to get ahold of the gun.

Hughes, who was denied a FOID card and does not have a concealed carry license, said “we purchased it,” when the officers asked how he received the gun.

Hughes is due back in court June 17.