Watch CBS News

Man Sentenced To Time Served In Death Of 11-Year-Old Cousin

FLINT (WWJ/AP) - A man has been sentenced to time served after admitting he inadvertently fired a shot that killed his 11-year-old cousin on the porch of a house in Flint.

Tovonte Jones, 25, was sentenced to five years of probation and given time served for the 444 days he already spent in jail after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the March 2015 death of William L. Coppage, The Flint Journal reported.

Jones says he mishandled the gun. He apologized for his cousin's death and told the court Tuesday: "This tragedy has really haunted me."

Jones earlier faced a second-degree murder charge, but a plea agreement was reached with prosecutors.

William was a sixth-grader at Burton Glen Charter School in neighboring Burton.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.