Boy, 4, Killed, Allegedly After Asking Dad to Leave During Christmas Eve Argument with Mom ArticlePure

A Maryland mother is mourning the loss of her 4-year-old son who was allegedly killed by his father on Christmas Eve during a domestic dispute. 

Jacobi Jones, 4, was killed in their Rosedale, Md., residence during a “domestic-related assault” that left his mother Promyss Marcelle and 1-year-old sister injured, according to Baltimore County police. (The victim was identified as Jacobi Sa’Fiir Marcelle in his obituary).

The statement by law enforcement did not name Promyss Marcelle, but she was identified as his mother in a GoFundMe and several news outlets who spoke with her, including 11 News. 

Jacobi’s father, 30-year-old Mark C. Jones allegedly shot himself during the incident but survived; he was later arrested in connection with the incident, police announced on Dec. 29. 

According to charging documents cited by CBS News and WMAR 2, the incident unfolded on Christmas Eve morning when Jones allegedly walked into Marcelle’s room around 6 a.m. and began arguing.

Jacobi asked his father to leave the room, but then Jones allegedly got a handgun out of a backpack and began to load it, per police. 

Marcelle, who was with her children on the bed, then “heard a ‘boom’ and felt the back of her shirt get wet, and she fell to the floor,” the charging documents state. 

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Now, Marcelle is remembering her son while also honoring his name by trying to raise awareness about domestic violence. 

“Even if you’re [lonely] or you want to make your family…it’s not worth it,” she told 11 News in an exclusive interview.

“[T]ake my story, now that I was forced to leave, basically, I don’t have my son,” she added. 

During a community walk organized locally for domestic violence awareness, Marcelle recalled Jacobi’s excitement about Christmas, FOX 45 News reported.  

“He kept trying to open the presents but I would tell him you’ve got to wait till Christmas. And he never got to open those presents,” she said. “But I’m just keeping my son’s name alive.”

She told the outlet Jacobi would “light up a room” and was “always smiling.”

“Grieving the loss of my son has been the most unbearable thing I’ve ever had to deal with,” Marcelle wrote in the GoFundMe set up to assist with funeral and recovery costs.

Jones is facing one count of first degree murder, two counts of attempted first degree murder, child abuse and assault charges, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

An attorney listed for him was not reachable. The court records did not indicate any plea information.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.