NEW ORLEANS — According to Kenner Police, Melvin McClinton Sr. succumbed to his injuries sustained from a suicide attempt, following the death of his three-year-old son.
Earlier Friday McClinton Sr. was reported still lying in the hospital in critical condition after he shot his three-year-old son, Carmelo, then shot himself in the head. Family members say McClinton was grappling with the loss of his 18-year-old son, also named Melvin McClinton, who was shot and killed Feb. 5 on 42nd Street.
"That was hard. We all was on pins and needles, we all was trying to cope with it," family member Thalmus Williams told WWL Louisiana Thursday.
Williams believes the death of Melvin McClinton senior's oldest son led to Wednesday's tragedy. Police say McClinton Sr. got into a fight Wednesday with the mother of his three-year-old. They say, he then shot Carmelo before he went outside and shot himself. The incident is still under investigation.
Just a few hours before Wednesday's incident, the suspect accused of killing Melvin McClinton Jr., Jarrone Crimmins, appeared in court. According to court documents obtained by WWL Louisiana, Crimmins is facing first degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. According to our partners at Nola.com, a detective testified at that Wednesday court hearing that text messages showed Crimmins arranged to meet up with one of McClinton's friends for a drug deal.
Crimmins was also arrested previously in April 2023 and August 2023. Charges from those arrests include resisting arrest, possession of a firearm, illegal possession of stolen things and more. Had McClinton Sr. recovered, police say he was going to be charged with first degree murder.
Now, family members are grieving even more.
"My brother he just the things he went through as far as losing his son and trying to hold it together it was too much to bear," Williams said.
The family has created a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money for funeral expenses for Carmelo “Melo” McClinton.
“He had so much to live for but everything ended suddenly! This is extremely hard on our family as we pray for them that they find peace in the time of need,” the family said in the GoFundMe post.
The family also set a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses for the father, McClinton Sr. who died from a self-inflicted gunshot.
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