Overview

• Seven-year-old Legend Jenkins was hit May 27 by an SUV driven by a 76-year-old woman while crossing West Hudson Boulevard without a crosswalk alongside his 10-year-old brother.
• Jessica Ivey, 30, and Samuele Jenkins, 31, face involuntary manslaughter and child neglect charges and were denied release to attend their son’s funeral.
• Law enforcement found no evidence of speeding or recklessness by the SUV driver, who has not been charged and is cooperating with Gastonia Police Department investigators.
• The police department highlighted that unsupervised children are at heightened risk in traffic and stressed the importance of adult accountability.
• A family-established GoFundMe has raised $6,250 toward its $10,000 goal to cover funeral and support expenses.