BERKELEY — A man who was set to stand trial this week in the accidental shooting death of his 7-year-old grandson instead took a deal and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Walter Macon, 47, pleaded guilty to second-degree involuntary manslaughter — a much lower felony than his original charge of endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death.
Prosecutors also dropped an armed criminal action charge, which carries a minimum sentence of three years that must be served consecutively with other sentences.
Macon entered a blind plea, said Chris King, spokesman for the Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ County prosecuting attorney's office. This means he did not reach an agreement on a sentencing recommendation with prosecutors.
Prosecutors recommended the judge sentence him to three years in prison, King said.
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The manslaughter charge carries a prison sentence of up to four years and a fine of up to $10,000.
King said defense attorneys requested a pre-sentence assessment report, so a judge will sentence Macon in about two months once that is completed.
Macon's grandson, Darnell Macon, was shot inside a truck Aug. 7, 2023, in the 6700 block of Larry Lane, just off North Hanley Road in Berkeley. Police say Macon admitted he left Darnell in the truck with a loaded gun.
Investigators said Macon was loading studio recording equipment into his truck when Darnell climbed into the vehicle.
Macon told police he then left for about 5 minutes. When he returned, his grandson was slumped over with a gunshot wound to the head.
Darnell was pronounced dead at the scene.
Macon told police the gun was between the driver’s seat and the center console when he left Darnell in the truck.
Storms rocked the Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ area with a tornado damaging neighborhoods from Clayton to north Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ. View photos from the Post-Dispatch photographers during the week here. Video by Jenna Jones.
