On the evening of August 10, 2022, 2-year-old Mayze Moon was fatally shot in a home on the 2800 block of Deep Creek Boulevard in Portsmouth, Virginia. Al Demond McNeil, a friend of the child's mother, was sitting in a chair in the kitchen while the child played on the floor nearby. A 9mm handgun fell from McNeil's waistband (or pocket), struck the floor, and discharged, striking the child in the head. The child's mother, who was preparing food and did not know McNeil had a gun in the home, witnessed the immediate aftermath. The child was rushed to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, placed on life support, and died three days later on August 13, 2022. McNeil was initially charged with second-degree murder but the charges were downgraded to involuntary manslaughter after a judge found no malicious intent; he ultimately pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
All three documents describe a firearm incident. Document 2 (Yahoo/WAVY) states: "a gun fell out of McNeil's waistband, hit the floor and fired a shot that struck the child." Document 1 (WAVY) states the child "was shot in the head" and that McNeil was charged with "use of a firearm and shooting in the commission of a felony." Document 3 (13newsnow) states detectives testified "his gun had fallen out of his pocket as he stood up from a chair in the kitchen and discharged, hitting 2-year-old Maize Moon."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Document 3 (13newsnow) states the child's mother referred to McNeil as "her friend at the time, McNeil, who had been sitting in the kitchen." McNeil is the man whose gun discharged and killed the child. Document 1 (WAVY) also notes that McNeil had a "domestic partner of more than nine years" (a separate person), confirming McNeil was a friend of the child's mother rather than a romantic partner. McNeil is thus a male friend involved in the child's death.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Document 1 (WAVY) states: "Al McNeil is charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm and shooting in the commission of a felony." Document 2 (Yahoo/WAVY) states: "Al Demond McNeil was..." initially charged with second degree murder and later "pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm." McNeil was arrested and charged for the child's death.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. Document 1 (WAVY) reports McNeil gave "conflicting accounts" of the shooting and was moved from the Portsmouth jail to "an undisclosed location after potential threats" because "police believed the victim's family would have harmed McNeil before he was taken into custody." Document 3 (13newsnow) reveals that "McNeil insisted he never touched the gun" and that the gun was "purchased from his fiancée." The mother stated she "did not know McNeil had a gun inside the home prior to the shooting." The charges were significantly downgraded from second-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter, with the judge saying she "did not see any malicious intent." Document 2 (Yahoo/WAVY) notes that McNeil was initially denied bond but then granted a $20,000 bond on appeal by a different judge, over objections from the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
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