Relative of slain toddler arrested in suspect’s killing

BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo.—A relative of a slain 3-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of killing the teenager accused of unintentionally shooting the toddler, authorities say.

Police say 17-year-old Kameron Harvey was shot on Oct. 4 while riding his bike in Bellefontaine Neighbors, just north of St. Louis. Harvey was charged with manslaughter in the December 2015 death of the toddler, Xavier “Zae” Robinson, and was on house arrest while the case was prosecuted in adult court.

Police say two 17-year-olds, both males, were arrested about an hour after Harvey was killed. At least one of the teens is related to the toddler, said Detective Lt. Shawn Applegate. Both teens have been released, and Applegate says prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine whether to file charges.

“There are no winners in cases like this,” Applegate said. “Both families are ripped apart and in mourning.”

Authorities say Harvey was playing with the laser site on a handgun inside a home and shot the 3-year-old. Harvey was a friend of the family and 15 at the time. He ran from the home but turned himself in to police the next day.

The toddler’s parents, Shawmane Robinson and Semaj Porter of Florissant, were charged with child endangerment, the St. Louis PostDispatch reported. Police said the parents had seen Harvey and the toddler’s older brother playing with a gun the prior evening and didn’t take the gun away nor check to see whether it was loaded. Their cases are pending in St. Louis County Circuit Court.

Robinson’s attorney, Mark Byrne, told The Associated Press that it is “unfortunate that he had to lose his son that way and that the state feels he should be punished the way he has been thus far.”

Porter’s attorney didn’t immediately return a phone message from the AP.