YPSILANTI TWP. (WWJ) -- A man accused of shooting a 6-year-old boy after telling him and his friends to get off his lawn in Ypsilanti Township has taken a plea deal.
Ryan Cuong Le-Nguyen, 29, pleaded no contest Thursday, March 17, to one count each of felony firearms and discharging a firearm in a building causing injury, according to a MLive report.
In exchange for taking this offer, his remaining charges of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm, discharging a firearm in a building and two counts of felony firearms will be dismissed at his sentencing.
Le-Nguyen was charged after he was accused of shooting a 6-year-old boy who lived next door to him on June 6, 2021, at about 4:30 p.m., according to witnesses.
The boy and two other children, ages 10 and 11, testified that group were playing "monkey in the middle" with a ball. When the ball was thrown at Le-Nguyen's home in the 1300 block of Candlewood Lane, they said he exited the home, kicked the ball into street and, while holding a hammer, yelled at the three to get off his lawn.
Related
Witnesses said that while one of the children went to grab the ball, the others went next door to get the victim's 11-year-old brother, informing him on what happened.
The victim and his older brother then knocked on Le-Nguyen’s front door. The victim then splashed red Gatorade on the door and ran away, said witnesses.
As they ran away. they heard a loud bang that they all believed to be a gunshot. They then discovered that the 6-year-old boy had been shot through the back of his upper arm, just inches away from his chest, witnesses said.
Related
The children ran home and told their parents, who called 911. Around the same time Le-Nguyen called 911 where he reported an alleged attempted break-in.
MLive reported that the boy has since recovered from his injuries with only scars of a bullet entry and exit wound on his arm.
Le-Nguyen's sentencing is scheduled for April 14 before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Darlene O’Brien.