The parents of a 7-year-old boy who suffered fatal injuries in a car accident in North Carolina have been charged with involuntary manslaughter. The incident happened while he and his siblings were walking home alone from a grocery store.
As reported by the Gastonia Police Department, Little Legend Jenkins was accompanied by his 10-year-old brother last Tuesday.
His mother, Jessica Ivy, mentioned that it was the first time she had allowed her sons to make that trip on foot to the nearby store.
Ivy and the boy’s father, Samuel Jenkins, were arrested on Thursday. They face charges of involuntary manslaughter and child neglect, in addition to felony accusations.
Authorities have denied them permission to attend their son’s funeral, and both parents were given an extraordinarily high bond set at $1.5 million.
The Gastonia Police expressed their condolences to the family while emphasizing that the investigation indicated the children were not being properly monitored when the boy stepped into traffic.
“In such circumstances, adults must be responsible for creating a safe environment for their children,” the police stated.
No charges have been brought against the drivers involved, as authorities found no evidence of speeding or wrongdoing. A witness, Summer Williams, described how the boy was struck after he jumped into the street while his brother tried to restrain him. She rushed to the scene, cradling the injured child in her arms.
“Even now, I can still see his face at night,” the witness recalled.
She tried to comfort him as they awaited emergency responders, reassuring him, “You’re not alone. Stay with us. You’re okay. Stay with us.”
Sadly, the boy succumbed to his injuries hours later at the hospital.
