Prosecutors charge man in 2016 drive-by that killed Mpls. child
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Hennepin County prosecutors on Monday charged a Twin Cities man with murder in connection with a 2016 drive-by shooting that left a north Minneapolis toddler dead.
Two-year-old Le'Vonte King Jason Jones was shot in the chest in July 2016 while riding in a minivan his father was driving near Penn and Lowry avenues in north Minneapolis.
Le'Vonte's younger sister suffered a leg wound.
Authorities say the children were hit during an exchange of gunfire between their father — Melvonte Lee Peterson — and 34-year-old Chris Maurice Welch.
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Le'Vonte's cousin — Pastor Danny Givens — said he wishes prosecutors would have been able to file charges sooner, but he's grateful that they did.
"There's a lot of cases out here that have gone unsolved because of similarities, and so thankful that we're able to begin the process of bringing justice here."
Prosecutors charged Welch with second-degree murder. According to the complaint, a person riding with Welch said Welch was driving and fired through his front passenger window at Peterson's minivan.
Prosecutors charged Peterson in the case in 2016 but later dismissed them.
At a news conference with police, County Attorney Mike Freeman said investigators had long suspected Welch.
"We simply didn't have sufficient evidence. But because of these officers and people in the community that care and want justice to be done, we finally have the evidence to charge and we have done so."
Welch is serving a 17-year federal sentence after a jury found him guilty last year of being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm.