A longtime suspect was charged with murder Monday in the drive-by shooting of a 2-year-old whose death came to symbolize the indiscriminate gun violence plaguing parts of Minneapolis.
Detectives have long believed that Chris Welch fired the bullet that mortally wounded Le'Vonte King Jason Jones on July 8, 2016, as he rode in a van with his 15-year-old sister and their father, Melvonte Peterson. Welch, 34, who was charged Monday with second-degree murder in Jones' death, is serving a federal prison term on unrelated gun charges.
At an afternoon news conference at police headquarters, officials said the charges had been a long time coming.
"We know that violence in any community affects everyone," Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said. "This case, however, involved the most vulnerable of our community, and that's our children. When children are shot and killed, our entire city mourns."
Welch is believed to have had a grudge against Peterson who is alleged to have stolen from him. Le'Vonte was hit in the chest and died from his injuries, while his sister was hit in the leg.
Welch was initially arrested in 2016 over the shooting but was later released due to a lack of evidence. However, recently witnesses came forward to inform police that Peterson had stolen from Welch, and Welch had also previously said he would kill Peterson.
Police also spoke with several additional witnesses who were with, or spoke with Welch about the shooting, although the first major breakthrough came last year after investigators re-interviewed people who had been with Welch on the day of the shooting itself.
Murder charges filed in 2016 drive-by shooting of toddler in N. Minneapolis
Le'Vonte King Jason Jones, 2, was fatally shot in 2016, as he rode in a van with his 15-year-old sister and their father. The suspect charged Monday is currently serving a federal prison term on unrelated gun charges.
www.startribune.com
Man charged in boy's drive-by shooting death in Minnesota
A man has been charged with murder over the 2016 drive-by shooting that killed two-year-old Le'Vonte Jason Jones. Chris Welch, 34, has been charged in connection with the murder.
www.dailymail.co.uk
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