Michigan Teen Sentenced Toddler’s Death In Drive By Shooting

Gun violence has become one of the biggest epidemics in our day to day lives as there continues to be shootings happening on a regular basis. There have been mass shootings, targeted shootings, and even stray bullets. The police force has been trying to fight against it but the access to the abundance of firearms makes that almost impossible.

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Another community is calling for answers and for action to be taken to make the world safer and take some of the guns off the street after an unfortunate and fatal incident in Michigan. A Michigan teen is going to be sentenced for his role in an incident that would result in a 2-year-old child losing their life.

19-year-old Jaylen Smith of Battle Creek was found guilty of the following charges:

• second-degree murder
• three counts felony firearm
• weapons-firearm discharge from a vehicle causing death
• weapons-firearm discharge in or at a building causing death
• carrying a concealed weapon

These charges come in connection to the fatal drive by shooting that left 2-year-old Kai Turner dead. The shooting took place on Sept. 20, 2022, but the Calhoun County Prosecutor states that Turner was not the intended target of the shooting. Smith's sentencing is set for March 17th at 1:15pm.

Smith is not the only defendant tied to this case as Martavon Nelson has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 6-16 years in prison while the other co-defendant Hashim Bell Jr still has a pending case as well. There is a good chance that Smith will spend a substantial amount of time behind bars since he did not take a plea deal.