Crime
30-year-old Mark Jones Arrested in Christmas Eve Shooting That Killed His 4-Year-Old Son Jacobi Jones in Rosedale
Authorities are investigating the incident as a domestic violence-related assault.
Baltimore County police have arrested 30-year-old Mark Jones in connection with the Christmas Eve shooting that claimed the life of his 4-year-old son, Jacobi Jones, and left two other family members injured.
Authorities are investigating the incident as a domestic violence-related assault.
On Christmas Eve, at approximately 6:35 a.m., police responded to a call reporting a shooting at a residence in the unit block of Breslin Court in Rosedale, Maryland.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a harrowing scene involving three victims, including two young children.
Jacobi Jones, just 4 years old, sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head. His 1-year-old sister was also injured, suffering a gunshot wound to her shoulder. Their mother, Promyss Marcelle, was shot in the head but survived.
The alleged shooter, Mark Jones, the father of the two children, sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was taken into custody. He is currently being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center and faces eight charges, including first-degree murder.
In the wake of the tragedy, Promyss Marcelle has shared her unimaginable pain and heartbreak. In a public statement, she recounted the events of that devastating morning:
“On Christmas Eve at 6:30 a.m., myself, my one and only son, and my daughter were shot by the hands of their father. I was shot in my head and am fortunate enough to be here to tell this story, as is my 1-year-old daughter, who was shot in her shoulder. Unfortunately, my son, who was shot in the head, did not make it.
Grieving the loss of my son has been the most unbearable thing Iโve ever had to deal with. The agony and pain I feel is something I wouldnโt wish on my worst enemy. I am tryingโtrying to push through for the sake of my daughter, who still needs me. At this time, I am trying to recover with my daughter while also burying my son.
I need the help of those who can assist me financially to bury my son properly. Nothing is too little, and anything helps. Even if you cannot donate financially, please keep my family in your prayers.”
According to police and family members, the shooting stems from a history of domestic violence at the residence. Investigators are working to determine what sparked the argument that led to the fatal shooting.
The tragic event underscores the deadly consequences of domestic violence and has prompted Promyss Marcelle to speak out in hopes of raising awareness. She is urging victims of domestic violence to seek help and leave abusive situations before itโs too late.
A GoFundMe account has been created to assist with Jacobiโs funeral expenses. The account aims to help the grieving family give Jacobi a proper burial and provide some relief as they navigate this devastating loss.
Mark Jones is scheduled for a bail review on Monday afternoon in Towson. While he remains in custody, the investigation continues to uncover the full details of what transpired that morning.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing domestic violence and supporting those affected. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org for resources and support.
The Baltimore County community mourns the loss of young Jacobi Jones, whose life was tragically cut short, and stands in support of his surviving family as they cope with this unimaginable tragedy.
Crime
Mustapha Kharbouch Now-Deleted 2024 Manifesto Published in Institute for Palestine Studies Recovered
Brown University has removed multiple online references to student activist Mustapha Kharbouch in the days following a deadly campus shooting, a move that has drawn public attention amid heightened online speculationโdespite law enforcement officials confirming that no suspects or persons of interest have been identified in the investigation.
Archived versions of Brown University webpages show that Kharbouch, a first-year student at the time, was previously listed in several university-affiliated roles, including as a student assistant and Cultural Programming Coordinator connected to the Global Brown Center.
His academic interests were described as focusing on International and Public Affairs and Anthropology, with involvement in Middle Eastโfocused academic, cultural, and student programming.
Those pages are no longer accessible, and Kharbouchโs social media accounts have also been deactivated.
A verified buyer from the United States with the name “Mustapha K.” reviewed a 9MM muzzle brake through the Wing Tactical website on December 29th, 2024 โ the same caliber used in the Brown shooting.
There are approximately a few hundred people in the entire United States with that first name + last initial combination.
University officials have not issued a public explanation for the removal of the online profiles.
The changes occurred as online speculation intensified in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, with social media users circulating screenshots of archived university pages and past writings associated with Kharbouch.
Among the materials resurfaced by online users was a 2024 essay authored by Kharbouch and published by the Institute for Palestine Studies as part of a special student essay series titled Genocide in Gaza: Student Essays โ Brown University Encampment 2024.
The essay, titled โI Hear the Voice of My Ancestors Calling: From the Camps to the Campus,โ was published on August 13, 2024, months before the shooting. The piece is a first-person reflective essay examining Palestinian identity, intergenerational memory, student activism, and questions of hope amid displacement, war, and protest.
The article includes poetic excerpts adapted from โAncestors Song,โ a chant popularized during student-led Palestine solidarity actions at Brown University, and documents Kharbouchโs participation in campus organizing efforts, including sit-ins, hunger strikes, rallies, and the Brown Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
The essay situates these experiences within a broader discussion of decolonial thought, feminist theory, and Palestinian history, including reflections on the 1948 Nakba and the authorโs family history as a third-generation stateless Palestinian refugee raised in Lebanon.
The content of the essay is ideological, autobiographical, and academic in nature.
There is no reference to violence on campus, nor any indication of intent or planning related to criminal activity.
The Institute for Palestine Studies has not issued any statement suggesting the piece is under review or connected to the shooting.
Despite widespread online conjecture, law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Providence Police, have not named Mustapha Kharbouch as a suspect or person of interest, and have publicly stated that there is no evidence linking him to the shooting.
Investigators have emphasized that the case remains active and that conclusions are being guided strictly by verified evidence.
Authorities have cautioned against drawing inferences from online speculation, warning that unsubstantiated claims can compromise investigations and cause undue harm to individuals not implicated by facts.
Media analysts and campus observers have suggested that Brown Universityโs decision to remove online references may have been taken as a protective or precautionary measure, particularly as misinformation and harassment proliferated across social media platforms following the attack.
Similar actions have been taken by institutions in other high-profile incidents to limit doxxing, targeted harassment, or the misinterpretation of publicly available biographical information during periods of heightened tension.
Brown University has not confirmed whether the removals were temporary, administrative, or safety-related in nature.
Authorities continue to urge the public to rely on confirmed information released by law enforcement and to avoid amplifying unverified narratives.
As of the most recent update, no arrests have been announced, no individuals have been publicly identified as suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with credible information related to the shooting has been asked to contact investigators directly.