Two Kansas City men have been charged in connection to the May 2015 murder of 3-year-old Amorian Hale.
Dominique Marchbanks, 24, and Sulif Wilkins, 25, are charged with first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action.
Last year, SirTerry L. Stevenson, 22, of Kansas City, Missouri, was charged with the same counts in the toddler's murder.
Hale was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting on May 31, 2015 near the 6700 block of Walround in Kansas City, Missouri.
If found guilty, all three suspects will face life in prison without possibility of parole, Peters Baker said.
Hear Mayor Sly James' remarks from the news conference.
Mother still in mourning
Monee McKinney was the first to learn about the charges filed Tuesday against Dominique Marchbanks and Wilkins.
"It's not going to be justice for me really until everything is said and done and the court process is through with. Then I can say I got justice, but I still won't have peace. I still won't have my son, and that's what matters," McKinney said. "Happy because something was done and we got a little bit more justice for my son and still sad because at the same time, he's not here."
Even now, McKinney says she wakes up in the morning and thinks her 3-year-old son Amorian is still there. "It's a lot of things I miss about my son honestly. It's not just one thing, it's everything," McKinney shared. "His smile, his presence, his love, and just everything about him."
In the midst of the judicial process, the grieving mother wants to open the eyes of people in the community. "Let people see the bigger picture. It's not about us. It's not about what beef you have. It's not about trying to get even," McKinney emphasized. "Our children, our kids, our future. That's who you guys are killing. Our future."
Grief of two grandmothers
McKinney's mom, Marcia McKinney-Purefoy, was by her side as Baker announced murder charges for two additional men in the death of her grandson.
"It can't bring our Amorian back, but I thank God that justice is being served," McKinney-Purefoy said.
Lynn Hale, Amorian's paternal grandmother, feels the same way. "The only sense of peace that I have is that something good is going to come out of this," Hale said.
The family set up a Facebook page called Justice 4 Amorian Hale.
Previous coverage:
- Man charged in murder of 3-year-old Amorian Hale, who was shot and killed in a drive-by May 31
- Family of 3-year-old Amorian Hale killed in shooting asks for tips
- Amorian Hale, 3, killed in Sunday morning drive-by shooting in KCMO
- Anonymous donor ups reward for 3-year-old Amorian Hale's killer to $7,500
- Community gathers at candlelight vigil fro Amorian Hale, 3 year old killed in shooting
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