What To Know
- Deshundre “Dre” Vinson, a former America’s Got Talent contestant, has been charged with murder following the drowning death of his 4-year-old nephew.
- Police allege Vinson was responsible for supervising the child but left him and other children unsupervised at a pool.
- Vinson is known for performing with the group CitiLimitz on AGT Season 20.
America’s Got Talent star Deshundre “Dre” Vinson has been charged with murder following the death of his 4-year-old nephew.
On Wednesday, September 2, Vinson, 22, was arrested in Tennessee following the August 16 drowning of his nephew in a Chattanooga apartment complex pool, WTVC reported.
Police say that Vinson, who was responsible for watching him, wasn’t there when the boy went underwater. Hehad also been watching the boy’s 6-year-old brother and other children that day, and allegedly allowed the siblings to walk .2 miles to the pool without supervision.
Surveillance footage showed the boy walk into deeper water from the pool’s edge and then struggle before going underwater for roughly 9 minutes. Eventually, someone saw the boy, pulled him from the pool, and began administering CPR. Although first responders rushed the 4-year-old to a nearby hospital, he died five days later.
After the drowning, Vinson and the person who held the lease at the apartment left and could not be located. Police found him at a different home two and a half weeks later and booked him into the Hamilton County Jail.
Vinson was charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated child abuse. His bond was set at $750,000.
Vinson is best known for competing alongside his cousins (who considered him a brother) — twins Amarion “Marion” Toran and Amari “A.T.” Toran — in Season 20 of AGT in 2025. The trio, who called themselves CitiLimitz, impressed judges with a soulful rendition of “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo.
CitiLimitz made it to the quarterfinals on AGT before they were eliminated after performing Justin Timberlake‘s “Cry Me a River.” Ultimately, Jessica Sanchez won AGT Season 20.
America’s Got Talent, streaming on Peacock