Jones Found Guilty of Son's Murder

After deliberating for more than 20 hours, a Baltimore County jury on Tuesday found Mark Jones, 31, guilty of second-degree murder for shooting and killing his 4-year-old son.

The jury also found him guilty of attempted second-degree murder for shooting his infant daughter and the children's mother; guilty of first-degree child abuse causing death; guilty of first-degree child abuse causing serious injuries; guilty of two counts of assault; and guilty of firearms offenses.

Jones was accused of fatally shooting his son, Jacobi, and shooting and wounding his 1-year old daughter and the children’s mother, Promyss Marcelle, the morning of Christmas Eve 2024.

The shootings happened in an apartment on Breslin Court in Rosedale around 6:30 a.m.

Jacobi Jones died from a single gunshot wound to the forehead. The baby was shot and wounded in her shoulder and Marcelle was shot in the back of the head and also survived. Jones sustained gunshot wounds to his jaw. Police believe he shot himself.

Prosectors said Jones and Marcelle were in a “toxic” relationship. The two had been arguing the night before the shooting, and Marcelle had called police wanting to have Jones removed from the apartment. Because there had been no physical assault, and Jones showed a piece of mail with his name on it addressed to the apartment, police told the two to stay in separate rooms for the night.

Jones’ defense team told jurors police jumped to conclusions when they arrived that morning and assumed Marcelle was telling the truth when she said Jones opened fire on her and threatened to kill everyone in the apartment. Jones told emergency personnel at the scene that Marcelle had shot him and that the two had fought over the gun.

Jones did not testify and the defense did not produce any witnesses.

The jury of seven men and five women heard three days of testimony and began deliberations Friday afternoon. Around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, court watchers got word a verdict had been reached.

Jones hung his head as the verdicts were read.

The jury did not find Jones guilty of first-degree murder, which would have allowed prosecutors to seek a sentence of life without parole.

A conviction of first-degree abuse of a child under 13 causing death carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

A conviction of second-degree murder carries a penalty of up to 40 years in prison. First-degree child abuse causing severe physical injuries carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.