All Charges Dropped For Teen Who Accidentally Shot His Friend in 2015

VICTORVILLE – After being behind bars for over two years for the death of 16-year-old Victorville resident Dakota Washington, all charges have been dropped for a now 17-year-old boy.

Xavier David Minniefield was only 15-years-old at the time of the incident on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at around 8:30 p.m. when he picked up a gun and accidentally shot Washington. Witnesses said that the group of kids were at Washington’s home in the 14400 block of Moon Valley Street in the City of Victorville making a music video using bb guns as props. At some point, witnesses said that Xavier got upset and shot a gun that he thought was a BB gun into the air. A bullet hit Washington in the chest and Minniefield, who was already on juvenile probation, fled the scene. The gun was later learned to be a 40-caliber Glock handgun.

Deputies went to Minniefield’s home, where his mother was less than forthcoming with the whereabouts of her son. An air ambulance was requested for Washington, but was canceled due to her quickly declining condition. She was transported to a local hospital where she died as a result of the shooting.

Minniefield was arrested and eventually held to answer adult charges of Involuntary Manslaughter, Assault with a Firearm, Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and possession of a firearm by a minor. At a hearing on June 14, 2016, over 2 years after his arrest all charges were dropped in the “Interest of Justice”.

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