Prosecutors defer charges in death of 2-year-old

Funeral for 2-year old Le'Vonte King Jason Jones
Le'Vonte King Jason Jones, 2, was killed earlier this month in a drive-by shooting in Minneapolis. His funeral was July 15.
Chris Juhn for MPR News

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.

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.

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