Parents grieving the death of their 7-year-old son, hit and killed by an SUV driver in May, are facing charges because police said he was “unsupervised” while crossing the street with his 10-year-old brother.
Jessica Ivey, the mother of 7-year-old Legend Jenkins, told WSOC-TV before her arrest that she had allowed the boys to walk to a grocery store two blocks away from their home in Gastonia, North Carolina, on May 27.
A 76-year-old woman driving a Jeep Cherokee hit the younger boy just before 6 p.m. as he was trying to cross a four-lane road, the Gastonia Police Department said in a press release. He died in a hospital hours after the accident from his injuries.
Legend’s mother and father, Samuele Jenkins, were charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and child neglect in the 7-year-old’s death. They also face a misdemeanor charge of child neglect. Records show they are being held in Gaston County Jail on $150,000 bond each.
“While the Gastonia Police Department offers its deepest sympathies to the family for the heartbreaking loss of their child, the investigation revealed that the children involved were unsupervised at the time the boy stepped into traffic,” police wrote in the release. “In such cases, adults must be held accountable for their responsibilities to ensure a safe environment for their children.”
The Gastonia police department has received massive backlash following news of the parents’ arrests, with numerous people expressing their outrage on social media. The department declined to comment on the controversy.
The 76-year-old driver who struck Legend with her vehicle has not been charged. Police said there was no evidence of wrongdoing, noting that she was not speeding and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Legend’s grieving mother believes the woman’s driving privileges should be revoked.
“It’s hard, I haven’t stopped crying; my husband hasn’t stopped crying,” she told WSOC-TV. “Honestly, I want justice for my baby. She shouldn’t still be able to drive.”
