On a summer day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the life of a two-year-old Black male named LeVonte King Jason Jones was tragically cut short. On July 8, 2016, young LeVonte was riding in a van with his 15-month-old sister and their mother's boyfriend, Melvonte Peterson, when a drive-by shooting occurred at the intersection of Penn and Lowry avenues. A bullet struck LeVonte in the chest, inflicting a fatal wound, while his younger sister was grazed in the leg.
Peterson immediately drove the children to a nearby hospital, but LeVonte could not be saved.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a complex situation involving a rival gang member. Authorities determined that Peterson and another man, later identified as Chris Welch, exchanged gunfire. It was unclear who fired the first shot, but the exchange resulted in the death of the young boy. Peterson, who was prohibited from carrying a firearm due to a prior felony conviction, was arrested and initially faced murder and manslaughter charges in connection with his son's death. However, a judge later dismissed the murder charges, stating that holding him responsible 'defies common sense.' Peterson was ultimately convicted of illegally possessing a firearm and sentenced to five years in prison.
For years, the case of LeVonte's death remained officially unsolved, though a suspect had been identified early on. Chris Welch was arrested shortly after the shooting but was released due to insufficient evidence. However, investigators continued to build a case against him. New evidence, including GPS data from cellphones and witness testimony, eventually led to charges being filed. In July 2019, nearly three years after the fatal shooting, Chris Welch was charged with second-degree murder in the death of LeVonte King Jason Jones. At the time the charges were filed, Welch was already serving a federal prison sentence for weapons possession. The motive for the shooting was reportedly a dispute between Welch and Peterson over a theft.
