DeKalb man charged with attempted murder in shooting of toddler
A DeKalb County man accused of shooting a toddler in June has been charged with attempted murder.
Prosecutors said Chazrel Jaquan Burton intentionally shot to kill a 2-year-old after a confrontation with the child’s father.
The toddler was wounded but survived.
A DeKalb grand jury indicted Burton Thursday on three counts of attempted murder, along with three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of gun possession during the commission of a crime, first-degree child cruelty, first-degree criminal damage and robbery.
The shooting happened June 26 when Burton, 21, allegedly attempted to rob someone at gunpoint outside the Kroger on Memorial Drive near Stone Mountain, police said.
The child’s father came to the rescue of the would-be victim, and police said Burton began firing at the father and at the man’s car, which was parked nearby and had the toddler and the child’s mother inside.
The child was hit in the hail of gunfire, police said.
Burton allegedly fled the scene and eluded capture for several days before surrendering July 3.
He is being held in the DeKalb County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
