Prosecutors defer charges in death of 2-year-old

Published 10:19 am Tuesday, July 26, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS — Prosecutors in Hennepin County say they don’t have enough evidence at this time to charge a man who was arrested in the death of a 2-year-old boy.

Prosecutors deferred charges and the man was released. They say police will continue investigating the death of Le-Vonte King Jason Jones and will consider charges if more evidence comes in.

Le-Vonte was shot in the chest July 8 while sitting in his father’s van. His father, 25-year-old Melvonte Peterson of Brooklyn Center, is charged with illegally having a firearm and drive-by shooting.

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Authorities say Peterson returned fire at a black Chevrolet Impala after its driver pulled next to Peterson’s van in north Minneapolis and fired shots. The Impala’s driver fired the shots that killed Le-Vonte and grazed his 15-month-old sister in the leg.