Father Throws 5-Month-Old In Air, Shakes Her To Death During Video Game Rage; Sentenced

A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to jail for fatally shaking and throwing his infant daughter in the air in a fit of rage while playing an online video game.

Zion Shockley, 22, of Chesco, admitted shaking his 5-month-old daughter to death in 2018 after he got insulted by another player during a video game. Shockley was sentenced to 31 to 62 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree murder, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, Chester County District Attorney’s Office said Monday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The incident happened on Feb. 10, 2018, when Shockley was at his grandparents' house in Coatesville while his infant daughter was under his care.

Shockley was playing a “Call of Duty” game with his child on a bed nearby. He got enraged when a fellow player made a disparaging comment about his gaming skills. He then picked up the baby, threw her in the air and then shook her violently for about one minute.

Even after seeing the child unresponsive, Shockley did nothing to help her, the court heard. The emergency officers were called after his grandfather came to the room and noticed the infant's condition.

The infant suffered bleeding in her brain and eyes and succumbed to death two days later in a hospital. Investigators found out that a very similar incident happened around six weeks before the child's death. During that incident, Shockley got angry after losing a video game and shook his daughter for five minutes.

Even though Shockley initially denied abusing the child, the investigators found out that he shook the infant on multiple occasions. He was initially charged with first-degree murder but later pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and other child abuse charges.

“What you did is unforgivable,” Jacqueline Marie Baldwin, the victim's mother told Shockley when he pleaded guilty in court. “You robbed a part of my entire life from me,” Baldwin said. “I don’t know how you can live with yourself. You were my best friend at one point, but now you are a monster to me,” Baldwin added, Daily Local reported.

“My client has accepted responsibility and hopefully it will bring closure to everyone involved,” Shockley's lawyer told the court during sentencing.