HOUSTON (KHOU) — The distraught father of a 4-year-old boy who accidentally
shot and killed himself this weekend was shielded from the media as he
left a Harris County courthouse Tuesday.
Marquiez Pratt, 20, was released from jail after posting a $50,000
bond on charges of child endangerment and possession of a controlled
substance.
Pratt was arrested after his son, Jaiden, picked up a gun Sunday
morning and accidentally shot himself at an apartment in the 13500 block
of Northborough Drive. When Houston police arrived, they saw Pratt
carrying his little boy and tried to help, but it was too late. Jaiden
was pronounced dead at the scene.
When police searched the apartment, they allegedly found cocaine and
marijuana at the scene. The gun that killed his son was also discovered
to be stolen, police said.
Pratt said he was asleep when his son found the gun, but a neighbor
disputes that, saying she heard adults arguing immediately before
hearing the gunshot.
An extremely remorseful Pratt was crying non-stop as his family members led him, face hidden, from the courtroom.
An agitated family member insisted the media go away and leave them alone.
"Back back. Get out the way," Pratt's brother said. "Get them cameras out of our face, man."
Other family members tried to stop the brother from speaking, but he
insisted on defending Pratt while they were waiting on the elevator to
arrive.
"Y'all want to know something? Yeah, he loved his son. He loved his
son," the brother repeated. "How do y'all think he feels? That was his
only child."
The family said the media's questioning was "disrespectful."
Pratt family
