Joanna Chalup Cortez, a 29-year-old woman from Phoenix, Arizona, faces multiple felony charges after allegedly shooting a 4-year-old boy, Qahsiem Sinclair, in the face on January 6, 2026, outside an apartment complex near 29th Street and Weir Avenue. The child miraculously survived with non-life-threatening injuries after the bullet passed through his cheek and teeth, and he received hospital treatment. No other injuries occurred, and police do not seek additional suspects.
Incident Sequence
The shooting stemmed from a dispute involving Cortez, her ex-boyfriend, his brother (the boy’s uncle), and the child’s mother. Earlier that day, arguments escalated during a group drive to drop off the ex-boyfriend at the Somo Lofts apartments, where the men later livestreamed content that angered Cortez. She returned around noon, honked aggressively, threatened via text and shouts to “shoot up the house,” exited her vehicle with a rifle, and fired once as the boy emerged on his scooter, per surveillance and witness accounts.
Charges and Arrest
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office records list charges including two counts of aggravated assault, discharging a firearm at a residence, and disorderly conduct with a weapon. Cortez fled initially but surrendered on January 7 after police contact, and now sits in jail on $500,000 bond.
Family Response
Qahsiem’s father, Meishaq Sinclair, described the chaos and his son’s trauma, noting he was playing with toys post-hospital but remains shocked; a GoFundMe aids medical costs. Cortez texted claims of remorse, insisting she lacked intent toward the child and unaware he was present, but the family demands justice, asserting she saw him before firing.
Legal Status
The incident ties to a possible domestic violence context involving the ex-boyfriend, per police; detectives continue investigating relationships without further arrests announced as of early January 2026.
