A Black Michigan father has registered his displeasure over the release of a neighbor who allegedly shot his 6-year-old son in the arm after the juvenile left his bike in front of his yard. Prior to the shooting, the accused, identified as Ryan Le-Nguyen, had threatened little Coby Daniel with a sledgehammer, FOX 2 reported.
However, Le-Nguyen was released on Tuesday on a $10,000 bond after spending three days in custody. He has been charged with assault with intent to murder.
In an interview with the news outlet, Coby’s father, Arnold Daniel, said his children were riding their bikes outside when they got off them and left one of the bikes in the neighbor’s front yard. And when Coby later tried retrieving his bike, Daniel said his son was confronted by Le-Nguyen, adding that the suspect was holding a sledgehammer when he came out to talk to the minor. Though Samuel said he did not know what the suspect told his son, he disclosed Coby also replied Le-Nguyen.
Following the confrontation, Daniel said Le-Nguyen entered his home and opened fire through his window. The bullet struck Coby in the arm and he was taken to the hospital for treatment. He is expected to fully recover.
“He tried hitting me with a sledgehammer but that’s not going to work because I’m too fast. (Then he) got a gun and BOOM shot me right here,” Coby said. The bullet reportedly passed through his arm. And his father also said the doctor informed him Coby would have died if the bullet was an inch in one of the two directions, FOX 2 reported.
Daniel, who also said they’ve had previous altercations with Le-Nguyen, expressed his dismay after the suspect was released on bond. “I’m trying to figure out he got a bond so low for trying to kill my kid,” Daniel said, adding that his son doesn’t even realize he almost lost his life.
“Right now, he’s not even processing what happened. He doesn’t realize how close he came to not being here..but I realize it,” Daniel said.
And though Le-Nguyen has been barred from going back to his home, Daniel told the news outlet that doesn’t take away his fears. “I’m scared for my family because I don’t know what he’s capable of,” he said.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office also expressed its dissatisfaction with the bond amount, saying it had asked for it to be set at $100,000. The office has since filed an emergency motion to have the bond increased.
