Chris Welch Charged In 2016 Case Where Toddler Was SH๏τ, Killed

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) – Minneapolis police have made a second arrest in connection to the shooting death of 2-year-old Le’Vonte Jones. Chris Welch, 31, was taken into custody Wednesday on probable cause murder charges. He is being held without bail at the Hennepin County Jail.

Le’Vonte Jones was sH๏τ in the chest and killed on July 8 while riding in the backseat of his family’s minivan near Penn Avenue N. and Lowry Avenue N. in Minneapolis.  Also in the van and injured in the shooting was Le’Vonte’s 15-month-old sister, Melia.

The toddler’s father, Melvonte Peterson, was arrested last week in connection to the shooting. Shortly after the shooting, Peterson arrived in his van at North Memorial Hospital with the two children, who he said were his kids. Police at the hospital found two bullet holes in the van, as well as a discharged cartridge casing from a 45-caliber gun.

Police obtained surveillance video which shows a shooting involving Peterson’s van and another vehicle at the intersection of Penn and Lowry Avenues North, just minutes before he and the two children arrived at the hospital.