Career criminal charged in shooting death of two-year-old St. Paul boy

Nearly three years to the day that a 2-year-old St. Paul boy was fatally sH๏τ at a North Minneapolis intersection, prosecutors have charged the man they suspect pulled the trigger.

Chris Maurice Welch, a 34-year-old Lexington, Minn., man currently serving a lengthy prison term for a felony weapons conviction, was charged with second-degree murder in Hennepin County District Court Monday for the death of 2-year-old Le’Vonte King Jason Jones.

Welch was initially arrested a couple weeks after the July 8, 2016, shooting that resulted in young Le’Vonte’s death, but was released for lack of evidence.

A criminal complaint this week detailed the additional evidence prosecutors suspect they need: a series of witness statements pointing toward Welch as the man who pulled up next to the van Le’Vonte was riding in and began shooting.

Le’Vonte’s family appeared in the audience of a news conference held by police and prosecutors Monday, and — while noting that it had taken some time — thanked law enforcement for their efforts.

“Today feels like the beginning of what justice could look like,” said Pastor Danny Givens, who accompanied the family.

Le’Vonte’s mother, LeShae Jones, said the ordeal has been rough but the charges “make me feel like I got some justice.”

Beside her stood Le’Vonte’s sister, Melia, who as a 15-month-old infant sat next to Le’Vonte when he was sH๏τ. She was sH๏τ in the leg herself. Jones said the girl is currently in physical therapy for her injury.

Jones’s boyfriend, Melvonte Peterson, was driving the van, and returned fire before driving to a nearby hospital. He was also charged with murder for Le’Vonte’s death, but a judge tossed those charges years ago, saying they “defied common sense;” instead, Peterson pleaded guilty to a weapons charge.

While listing no physical evidence, the criminal complaint against Welch details seven witnesses who point to him as the driver of the Chevrolet Impala that pulled up next to Peterson’s minivan.

Only one of the seven allegedly witnessed the shooting, telling police they were present in the Impala at the time. Several others said they had seen Welch driving the Impala immediately before or after the shooting, and two said Welch told them afterward about being in a shooting and needing more bullets.

One witness said Welch admitted to shooting Peterson and showed him the gun. The same witness said Peterson had stolen from Welch, but Welch said “he didn’t’ mean to shoot a kid.”

The complaint also states that since Welch has been incarcerated, “multiple witnesses” approached law enforcement officials to state that Welch admitted to the shooting. It is unclear whether any of the seven listed individually in the complaint are jailhouse informants.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Monday that he didn’t anticipate charging anyone else in the shooting.

Welch is currently serving a 17-year sentence for “Felon in Possession of a Firearm — Armed Career Criminal,” an upgraded version of felony firearm possession for those with at least three convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses. A federal crime, it mandates a minimum of 15 years in prison.

Welch has a criminal history dating to at least 2002, including convictions for aggravated robbery and felony drug charges.