COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Court records say a toddler on the city’s eastside found a gun that hadn’t been fully secure, and his father said the little boy shot himself inside his own home.
Columbus Police responded to 3000 block of Quinby Drive on reports of a shooting around 10:55 p.m. Saturday. Officers discovered 21-month-old Jashawn Butler on the front porch of the residence suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
The child’s mother and aunt were performing CPR when police arrived, according to court documents.
Medics rushed the toddler to Mount Carmel East hospital in critical condition. Despite efforts by medical personnel, Jashawn died from his injuries just after midnight.
Witnesses at the scene, according to court documents, said they heard a loud band and the toddler’s father running downstairs holding the toddler, saying the victim had shot himself. One neighbor shared Ring camera video from her front porch with ABC 6, showing police lining the street.
“There’s a lot of kids that come and drive and play on the street, but it’s it’s, it just puts you in shock,” Jamie Collins said. “I just want to keep my baby safe. I just couldn’t imagine something like that happening to her.”
Court records obtained by ABC 6 Deshawn Butler said he and his son were in his bedroom upstairs alone and went to secure the gun in a safe. He told detectives he was distracted by his toddler’s mischief and stepped away without realizing he didn’t close the safe door all the way.
Moments later, he said he heard a gunshot rang out and found his toddler had shot himself, according to court documents.
CPD said Butler fled the scene but later turned himself in at Columbus Police Headquarters for unrelated outstanding warrants hours later. Butler has been charged with felony child endangering, but ABC 6 obtained copies of those other misdemeanor charges, which allege violent behavior.
In November 2021, court documents said Butler punched his girlfriend, choked her and pulled her into a car when she tried to run away. His girlfriend told detectives he threatened to kill her.
In May 2022, court documents said Butler chased the same girlfriend outside the residence to the parking lot where he tackled her to the pavement and punched her in the face and head 6 times with a closed fist. These documents said Butler then got behind her, put a gun to her neck, and she better listen to him or he would kill her.
Another incident from August 2022 alleges that Butler attacked his ex-girlfriend by pointing a gun in her face, forcing his way into her home before punching her to the ground and putting his foot on her face.
In February 2025, court documents said he threatened to break his other son’s jaw by punching him in the face. These documents said that child was assigned to live with another family member by Franklin County Children Services.
ABC 6 asked FCCS how many children were in Butler’s care at the time of Jashawn’s death and what contact the agency had with the family prior to the shooting. A spokesperson for the agency said FCCS was not actively working with the family at the time of this incident.
“Such a tragic situation and reminder about the dangers of guns in a home with so many young children,” Scott Varner with FCCS said. “All it takes is a brief moment for a deadly accident to unfold.”