HOPEWELL, Va. – The abuse and neglect charges have been dropped against a man who was dating a woman whose three-year-old child shot his twin brother, according to online court records.
However, Lewis Walter Jones was found guilty of a drug charge connected to the case. The Richmond Times-Dispatchreports that Jones had marijuana and hydrocodone, along with other drugs. He was sentenced to five years in prison with all but three months suspended on the felony drug count, and to 12-months each on the three misdemeanor offenses, with all time suspended.
Police said the shooting could’ve been prevented with proper storage of the weapon, noting the shooting almost cost a young boy his life.
“It’s matter of inches and this whole thing could’ve changed,” said Hopewell Police Chief John Keohane. “It’s disturbing.”
The child recovered from a minor injury to the backside. The toddler who fired the gun was also wounded.
A spent .25 shell casing was found inside the apartment.
The mother of the children, Reashonda Sharelle Jones, is scheduled to appear in court in August, on neglect, gun, and drug charges.