Joanna Chalup Cortez, 29, faces serious charges including aggravated assault and discharging a firearm at a residence after allegedly shooting 4-year-old Qahsiem Sinclair in the face on January 6, 2026, at an apartment complex near 29th Street and Weir Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona. The incident stemmed from a dispute involving her ex-boyfriend, leading her to return angrily, threaten to “shoot up the house,” and fire a rifle, with surveillance capturing the event. Qahsiem underwent surgery, lost teeth, but is recovering and expected to survive, while his family seeks justice and medical support via GoFundMe.​​
Incident Details
The shooting followed an argument among women, including Qahsiem’s mother and Cortez, over the ex-boyfriend; they dropped him at Somo Lofts before Cortez returned enraged by a social media livestream. She allegedly texted threats to the mother and fired one shot as the boy emerged on his scooter, despite witnesses. Family members, like father Meishaq Sinclair, described the chaos and trauma, insisting she saw the child.​​
Legal Status
Cortez turned herself in on January 8, 2026, per Phoenix Police, and is held on $500,000 bond at Maricopa County Jail. Charges include two counts of aggravated assault, one for discharging a firearm at a residence, and disorderly conduct with a weapon. She claims no intent to harm the child via texts and posts, but court documents detail her threats.​​
Victim’s Condition
Qahsiem was rushed to a hospital, treated for the cheek wound where the bullet passed through miraculously, and is now playing with toys despite trauma. His father recounted the heavy bleeding and near-fatal injury. A fundraiser aids recovery costs.
