JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 2-year-old boy killed during a domestic dispute late Sunday night was in his mother’s arms when her boyfriend fired a shot that struck the toddler in the head, according to an arrest report and information obtained by News4JAX.
Steven Dodson Jr., 21, was taken into custody less than 24 hours after investigators said he shot and killed A’hmari Robinson at the Valencia Way Apartments.
Dodson has been charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, child neglect, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was denied bond on Tuesday.
According to Dodson’s arrest report, a witness told police that Dodson and Robinson’s mother were arguing “about a phone” outside the apartment before Dodson followed Robinson’s mother back inside and “into the same room as the children.”
Robinson’s mother told police that Dodson locked the bedroom door behind them, got a gun off a shelf in the bedroom closet and then fired a shot at her as she held Robinson.
The bullet struck the toddler, who died after being rushed to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
According to his arrest report, Dodson ran from the apartment and was captured on surveillance video throwing the gun into a dumpster.
After an hours-long manhunt, JSO, the US Marshals and the SWAT Unit took Dodson into custody at the Vista Landing apartments late Monday.
Police said that before officers arrived, someone else got the gun from the dumpster and brought it back to the apartment, where police took it into evidence.
Court records show Dodson has had prior arrests over the past three years on charges including strong-arm robbery, domestic battery, and other offenses.
As the judge read off Dodson’s charges, emotions from Robinson’s family spilled outside the courtroom.
“Pain. Anger and pain. Pain, hurt,” one family member said. “And then we already getting fake pages just texting us and threatening. People want to fight my sister. Y’all don’t even know what she’s going through. Y’all don’t know what she went through.”
Another family member added: “We is hurting, ‘cause that baby didn’t deserve none of that.”
As the case moves forward, the child’s family is leaning on the community as they grieve an unimaginable loss, and the Silent Women Speaking Foundation stepped in to help.
“Our goal is to bring Mom to an angel Mom support group. We will be doing grief coaching for her. And right now, we’re just taking care of the basic needs that she needs right now, showing love and support,” Haraka Carswell said.
Dodson remains in custody. His next court date is set for April 15.
The family also started a GoFundMe account to help Robinson’s family after the tragic loss.