Man accused of using 4-year-old as shield during knife fight

Man accused of using 4-year-old as shield during knife fight

A Springfield, Ohio man is accused of using a child for a human shield after an 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.