Parents Charged with Manslaughter After 7-Year-Old Son Dies in North Carolina Street Accident

Gastonia, North Carolina - In a heartbreaking turn of events, the parents of seven-year-old Legend Jenkins face manslaughter charges following their son's death in a tragic accident. The young boy was struck by a car while attempting to cross West Franklin Boulevard with his ten-year-old brother. Gastonia Police confirmed the child suffered life-threatening injuries and later passed away at a hospital. A local woman, Summer Williams, who witnessed the incident, shared her emotional experience with ABC News affiliate WSOC. "Just letting him know somebody was there and he wasn't alone," she recounted, describing the moments she held the injured boy in her arms. Police reports indicate the driver was not speeding. The parents, Jessica Ivy and Samuel Jenkins, appeared in court Wednesday, where they were charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony neglect, and misdemeanor child abuse. Their request to attend Legend's memorial service was denied by the judge, who set their bond at $1.5 million. The community mourns the loss of young Legend, highlighting the importance of child safety and the devastating consequences of negligence.