A 7-year-old boy in Gastonia, North Carolina, was struck and killed by a car while walking home from the grocery store. Now, his parents are facing serious charges.
On May 27, 2025, Legend Jenkins was walking with his 10-year-old brother when tragedy struck. Police say the children were returning home unsupervised when Legend tried to cross the road outside a designated crosswalk. A 76-year-old woman driving a Jeep Cherokee hit him.
Authorities confirmed the driver was not speeding and showed no signs of impairment. She will not be charged.
But the case has taken a dramatic turn. Police arrested Legend’s parents, Jessica Ivey and Samuele Jenkins, for involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse. They are accused of allowing their children to walk home alone, which investigators say contributed directly to the boy’s death.
“The loss of a child is heartbreaking,” a spokesperson from the Gastonia Police Department said. “But parents must be held accountable when decisions lead to tragic outcomes.”
The parents are currently being held on $1.5 million bond each.
The charges have sparked debate online and within the community. Some argue that many families rely on walking due to a lack of transportation and shouldn’t be criminalized for it. Others say young children should never be left to navigate roads alone.
A small memorial now sits near the crash site. Neighbors have left flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals in honor of Legend’s short life.
The legal case continues, but the community is already grieving deeply. Legend Jenkins is remembered as a joyful child who loved to play, laugh, and be with his family.
