Fatal toddler shooting investigation continues as community mourns
Le'Vonte King Jason Jones poses with his mother LeShae Jones. Le'Vonte was killed in a shooting in north Minneapolis on July 8. He was only two years old. Photo Courtesy: Danny Givens
MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Three days later, Minneapolis Police still have not made any arrests in the tragic shooting death of a two-year old boy.
The child was struck in the chest while riding in the backseat of a minivan.
Investigators are pouring over surveillance video in a search for the shooter.
The surveillance video and audio captures two vehicles, including the family minivan. It's 11:27 a.m. on Friday in broad daylight with innocent people everywhere. That's when it appears shots are exchanged at the Penn and Lowry intersection in north Minneapolis. The minivan speeds off. A bullet hole is visible just below the second row window. Inside, two small siblings are hit. Le'Vonte King Jason Jones was killed and his 15-month-old sister, Melia survived.
Family members are now pleading for help to find those responsible.
The shooting unfolded a block from Lucy Laney Community School.
"It makes me very angry,” said Principal Mauri Melander.
Dozens of young students were here on Friday as part of a special summer program and heard the gunfire.
On Monday morning, teachers and staff walked the kids up to the scene to drop off pictures, flowers and handmade cards.
The group held hands and bowed their heads for a moment of silence, honoring the tiniest victim not even old enough to start school.
"Unfortunately, we've had our fair share of tragedies that we've weathered over the years,” said Melander. “I've learned you can't ignore it. You don't always need to stop and make a super big deal out of it, but you can't ignore it. And you can't act like it's normal."
Police say they have added manpower to this case. More than ten investigators are trying to figure out what happened, who pulled the trigger and if there gunfire from inside the minivan the children were riding in.