A Baltimore County father accused of shooting his young son in the forehead, wounding his infant daughter, and nearly killing their mother on Christmas Eve 2024 is now on trial for murder — and the case is tearing his own family apart.
Mark Jones Jr. faces life in prison on charges of murder and attempted murder in the Christmas Eve shooting inside a Rosedale apartment. Prosecutors say Jones, enraged over a custody dispute and child support, fatally shot his 4-year-old son Jacobi, critically wounded his 1-year-old daughter Peyton, and shot the children’s mother, Promyss Marcelle — before turning the gun on himself.
A sister mourning and defending at the same time
Jones’ older sister Cierra spoke outside the courthouse this week, saying she is devastated by Jacobi’s death but refuses to abandon her brother.
“I’m keeping my nephew Jacobi’s name alive, and I’m here by my brother’s side,” she said. “Jacobi is living in us every day. That’s my only nephew.”
What the evidence showed
Jurors viewed photos of blood-stained walls and the semiautomatic pistol — registered to Jones — that prosecutors say was used in the killing. Jacobi was shot in the middle of his forehead.
Lead detective Mark Fisher testified that nothing from the defense changed his conclusion that Jones pulled the trigger. He stated there was “no corroborating evidence” supporting the defense claim that Marcelle fired the gun.
In a striking moment, jurors watched body camera footage of detectives questioning a heavily injured Jones from his hospital bed at Johns Hopkins — still intubated, responding only by writing on a whiteboard.
The mother tried to get help hours before
Marcelle said she called 911 before the shooting, but officers could not remove Jones because mail with his name was found in the apartment. She had no car, no family in Maryland, and felt she had nowhere to go.
“We were in my home, where I’m supposed to feel safe,” she said.
The trial is expected to continue Friday.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “BEGIN” to 88788.
