NC - Legend Jenkins, 7, walking home with his 10 yo brother, hit by a car & killed, parents charged with invol manslaughter, Gastonia, 27 May 2025

[tlorik]

I completely agree. Mom was going to let them walk home and she could nearly see them from where she was as they walked. I don't see any negligence on her part. And the fallout for everyone is so awful - the driver of the car, the brother he was with and the rest of the siblings and parents are all traumatized. I just don't understand why this appears to be a "witch hunt."

 

[teeby]

My 10 and 7 year old walk home from school alone. They have been doing this since they were 9 and 6. I find the expectation that parents have line of sight supervision at all times on children that old to be developmentally inappropriate. Unless there is a backstory that we aren't privy to, charging the parents seems like a terrible decision to me.

 

[lynchmob67]

Seems the parent’s story changed and the boys actually went out for food alone.

“Authorities revealed that the two boys had been sent out alone by their parents to get food from the Subway across the busy four-lane road. Surveillance footage from the shopping center confirmed that the children arrived by themselves.”

https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/north-carolina-parents-plead-guilty-to-felony-child-abuse-after-7-year-old-son-fatally-struck-crossing-street-unsupervised/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialnewsdesk&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLHugZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmdELUf2s8A2jy8Og9I1xpvEwARkUV_ZSyAXdDzqC7NeMrdG6uYDtrHJY3iX_aem_rIlRGDKL-aa_CZ_ZSpvPoA

 

[ChatteringBirds]

So they have pled guilty and received 2-3 years of probation, and it sounds like the family won't be broken up as long as they follow their parenting plan. I'm glad they were able to attend their son's funeral and won't be sent to prison. IMO. They are not the first family who has made this sort of tragic decision and won't be the last. Sincere condolences to this entire family.

 

[IceIce9]

Seems the parent’s story changed and the boys actually went out for food alone.

“Authorities revealed that the two boys had been sent out alone by their parents to get food from the Subway across the busy four-lane road. Surveillance footage from the shopping center confirmed that the children arrived by themselves.”

https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/north-carolina-parents-plead-guilty-to-felony-child-abuse-after-7-year-old-son-fatally-struck-crossing-street-unsupervised/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialnewsdesk&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLHugZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmdELUf2s8A2jy8Og9I1xpvEwARkUV_ZSyAXdDzqC7NeMrdG6uYDtrHJY3iX_aem_rIlRGDKL-aa_CZ_ZSpvPoA

So they made up the story about it being the first time they were ever allowed to walk home from the grocery store, and about mom being at the store with them. Probably LE knew from the start that their story wasn’t true. Maybe if they had told the truth from the start, they wouldn’t have ended up in jail?

 

[noZme]

accidental post

 

[tlorik]

As we thought, more to the story than originally presented. Still a tragedy for all involved.

 

[TMich6811]

Can’t imagine being this sibling and the heaviness they will hold for their entire life

 

[mickey2942]

As we thought, more to the story than originally presented. Still a tragedy for all involved.

Yes. It sounds to me like this family needs support and a parenting plan. And possibly education on contraception.

 

[LadyL]

Yes. It sounds to me like this family needs support and a parenting plan. And possibly education on contraception.

and education on taking personal responsibility and not blaming the poor driver

 

[Cardgame]

So they made up the story about it being the first time they were ever allowed to walk home from the grocery store, and about mom being at the store with them. Probably LE knew from the start that their story wasn’t true. Maybe if they had told the truth from the start, they wouldn’t have ended up in jail?

This new version of events makes sense of the detail that it was the driver who held onto the boy until the ambulance arrived. I didn't understand how the mother hadn't come running out of the shop to be with him.

 

[shetalksinstereo]

Calls to redefine law in regards to child neglect

 

[TMich6811]

Calls to redefine law in regards to child neglect

Meh laws don’t matter when CPS and legal don’t do their jobs

 

[shetalksinstereo]

Meh laws don’t matter when CPS and legal don’t do their jobs

You obviously didn't read the article. Imagine your child is walking to school independently, and they get hit/killed by a car and you, as the parent, being charged with child neglect or involuntary manslaughter. Letting your child (of appropriate age and ability) walk to/from school is not being neglectful as a parent.

 

[TMich6811]

You obviously didn't read the article. Imagine your child is walking to school independently, and they get hit/killed by a car and you, as the parent, being charged with child neglect or involuntary manslaughter. Letting your child (of appropriate age and ability) walk to/from school is not being neglectful as a parent.

I did read the article. I understand the article is about changing laws related to independent activities. That’s what I commented on.

A judge does what they want and the DA pursues what they want and CPS works when they want. Changing laws like these are great in theory but not when the whole system is failing anyway