The grieving parents of a 7-year-old child who died hours after being hit by a car were charged with involuntary manslaughter after allowing him and his brother, 10, to walk home unaccompanied by an adult from a nearby grocery store.

The 76-year-old driver will not face any charges.

The Food Lion store is two blocks away from their home. The parents said the children were with their mother when they asked to meet their father at the store, and she allowed them to leave

Gastonia police declined to comment to NBC News, but said in a statement that “there is no evidence of speeding or wrongdoing on the part of the driver, therefore no charges have been filed. The driver continues to be cooperative and the incident remains under active investigation by the Gastonia Police Department’s Traffic Division.”

Ivey, the mother, told WSOC before her arrest that it was the first time had she let the children walk alone. “It was just devastating, I’m still in shock, I’m in shock,” she said. “It’s hard, I haven’t stopped crying; my husband hasn’t stopped crying. Honestly, I want justice for my baby.”

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 21 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I've never understood manslaughter as a charge, what is the obsession of sending someone to prison for an accident?

  • source
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [+] 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)
  • [–] 21 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Of course, we will never see oil and gas companies get charged for macro-level manslaughter.

    porky-scared-flipped: “Me? A murderer? Oh nononono kiddo, you see, it’s not like I PERSONALLY wanted to hurt people, I just wanted to make money and other people just so happened to be collateral damage! It’s not like I MEANT it!”

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 12 points 1 year ago

    Or mining companies involved in multiple environmental disasters that killed the river they took their name from. Also not nearly enough compensation for all of the people that lost their homes and everything they owned

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    After reading a few more comments, they were walking home from the store, and the 10 year old was on the phone with his father.

    At that age I had to walk 4 blocks to catch the bus to school, and cell phones weren't a thing yet.

  • source
  • parent