Man Accused Of Using Baby As A Shield During Knife Fight

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A Springfield, Ohio man is accused of using a child for a human shield after a argument over text messages escalated into a knife fight.

Police said Tilic Beal, 19, and the child’s mother, 29-year-old Hassanah Merchant were arguing when both pulled knives.

Investigators say that’s when Beal grabbed the four-year-old boy and used him as a human shield.

Merchant said Beal was backed-up against a wall, holding the boy, when she said, “you gonna use my son for a shield? You really gonna use my son to protect you?”

Police arrived and arrested Beal.

He remains in the Clark County Jail, charged with domestic violence and child endangering.

Neither the child nor Merchant or Beal were injured.