A 22-year-old man took the life of an 11-year-old boy three months after being released from prison because the coronavirus outbreak was ‘too dangerous’ for him to stay in jail.
11-year-old Davon McNeal was just getting out of a car when he was shot at a family cookout on the fourth of July.
According to WUSA 9, the suspected gunman, 22-year-old Christian Wingfield, had been released from jail despite charges of felon possessing firearms in April.
The young boy was shot on Independence Day when multiple shots were fired at the family gathering.
Two suspects have been arrested, 18-year-old Daryle Bond and Wingfield. Officers are searching for three other suspects.
McNeal was one of the several victims, including children, who lost their lives on Independence Day.
In an interview with USA-TV, John Ayala said his grandson McNeal was “just getting out of a car to get a charger to charge his phone while he was going to a cook out.”
He continued: “And when he stepped out the car, the shots rang and he fell to the ground. The mother thought that he was ducking to not get hit and came to find out he had got shot.”
WUSA 9 reporter Bruce Leshan wrote on Twitter: “DC judge released Christian Wingfield, suspect in murder of Davon McNeal, 11, after his lawyer said COVID-19 made it too dangerous of him to stay in jail on earlier charges of felon possessing firearm and extended ammo clip.”
Wingfield was arrested in April after it was discovered that he had a high-capacity magazine and a gun. His lawyer argued at that time for emergency release due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Prisons were described by public health experts as potential ‘petri dishes’ for the spread of the virus to due poor sanitation and lack of space. Some states even implemented a ‘0 bail’ policy that ruled those arrested for minor incidents would be released right away.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!
Replaced!