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Former America’s Got Talent contestant Deshundre Vinson is reportedly facing a murder charge in connection with the drowning death of his 4-year-old nephew.
Vinson, 22, has been charged with first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated child abuse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, following a deadly incident that took place at a swimming pool in August, per an affidavit obtained by local station ABC9.
According to law enforcement, Vinson was allegedly babysitting his 4-year-old nephew and the child’s 6-year-old brother on August 16 when he allowed them to walk two-tenths of a mile on their own to an apartment complex pool.
While the complex reportedly had signs posted that warned against children under the age of 14 using the pool unsupervised, Vinson did not accompany his nephews.
Police were responding to an unrelated matter at the complex when they heard screams and found someone trying to perform CPR on the unresponsive 4-year-old. The boy was transferred to Erlanger Hospital, where he died five days later, per a police report.
Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage that showed the boy walking along the edge of the pool before he fell into the deep end. He was reportedly underwater for nine minutes before anyone noticed something was wrong.
A bystander pulled him out of the water and tried to administer life-saving procedures before police arrived on the scene.
Law enforcement officers reportedly attempted to question Vinson and the person who held the lease on his apartment but they were allegedly nowhere to be found. Vinson was eventually taken into custody and held at Hamilton County Jail after he was located at a nearby home more than two weeks later.
His bond was set at $750,000, according to Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department records. His next court date is on Tuesday, September 8.
ABC9 reported that police obtained messages from Vinson to his late nephew’s mother, acknowledging that the children had been unsupervised and that there was a delayed response to the drowning.
Vinson achieved minor fame as part of the vocal trio CitiLimitz alongside cousins Marionn and A.T. The group auditioned for America’s Got Talent season 20 in 2025, impressing judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Sofía Vergara and Simon Cowell with their cover of K-Ci and JoJo’s 1997 hit “All My Life.” The trio received a standing ovation from Mandel, 70, and Mel B, 51, at the end of their audition.
“I’m rooting for you. I want you to succeed,” Mel B told CitiLimitz. “Your harmonies? You know your stuff! Well done!”
Cowell was similarly supportive in his feedback, saying, “For me, there’s nothing better than working with a band that works. You’re brothers. You’ve got this natural chemistry anyway. I really liked it!”
CitiLimitz were eliminated during AGT season 20’s first quarter-final show on August 19, 2026. (American Idol alum Jessica Sanchez ultimately won the NBC competition show in September 2025, more than 19 years after she originally made it to the AGT semi-finals in season 1.)
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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