Father arrested after his 9-year-old son shot and killed in Compton

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- A father has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of his 9-year-old son in Compton over the weekend.

The incident happened just after 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Haskins Avenue, near Visalia Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies found the boy, identified by his mother as Princeton Nicholas Jones, suffering from a gunshot wound in the backyard of his grandfather's home. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives honed in on the boy's biological father as the suspect. Nicholas Jones, 32, was arrested Sunday for murder and child abuse resulting in death.

The boy's mother, Creole Green, said her son had autism.

"My goal... was to give him the proper teachings and all the things that he needed in order to navigate this world independently one day," Green said. "I'm just devastated that my son's life... the door was shut in front of him at nine years old."

A 9-year-old boy was killed in a shooting in Compton, and an investigation into the deadly incident was underway Sunday.

Green said her son was staying at his grandfather's house when the shooting happened.

Family members described Princeton as funny, caring and said he adored his mother. A GoFundMe account has been set up.

A vigil was held Sunday to honor the boy. Community leaders called for an end to the violence.

"This is our community," said Paulette Gibson, president of the Compton NAACP. "It is unfortunate that our young people can't feel safe in their own community."

The city released a statement Monday afternoon: "The city of Compton mourns the loss of the 9-year-old boy who was killed on Saturday evening in West Rancho Dominguez. Our hearts go out to the family as they cope with this tremendous loss. We encourage anyone with more information to call the L.A. County Sheriff's Department at (310) 605-6500."