MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Drug-crazed father kidnaps, shoots mother of child

Jan 7, 2013, 6:00 PM | Updated: Jan 8, 2013, 9:41 am

A Tacoma man faces multiple charges for allegedly kidnapping and shooting the mother of his child.

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist says 37-year-old Meko Jones confronted the 27-year-old victim on Friday, January 4 as she arrived at a local community college for class. She had been keeping him away from the child because he was on a long-term drug binge.

Lindquist says Jones forced the victim to go to her car at gunpoint, and shot her when she tried to grab the gun by the barrel. He then forced her into the car and fired a shot at her head, barely missing her as she ducked but shattering the window.

“The victim has been in contact with our office and she told one of our staff she felt lucky to be alive,” Lindquist says.

Jones allegedly forced the woman to drive to his mother’s house and held her at gunpoint for several hours. He threatened to kill her, her family and the child if they contacted police.

Jones also made the victim drive to an ATM and took money from her account.

Eventually, he let her go and she went to the hospital for treatment.

“This is another unfortunate example of how crazy domestic violence offenders can become. The defendant even gave the victim a pain killer to ease the pain he caused by shooting her,” Lindquist says.

Police spotted Jones driving soon after and chased him. He tried to get away but lost control of the car and crashed into a fence. Officers were able to catch up with him and arrest him, Lindquist says.

Jones is charged with Assault, Kidnapping, Robbery, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree and Attempting to Elude a Pursuing Police Vehicle. He’s being held on $500,000 bail.

He was previously convicted of Arson in the First Degree and is prohibited from possessing guns.

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