Former “America’s Got Talent” contestant Deshundre Vinson has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the drowning death of his 4-year-old nephew.
Vinson, 22, was taken into custody on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He faces one count of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated child abuse, according to Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office booking records. His bond has been set at $750,000.
The charges stem from an incident on Sunday, Aug. 16, at an apartment complex swimming pool. Police were responding to a separate call when they heard screaming from the pool area. They found the 4-year-old boy being administered CPR. The child was transported to a hospital and remained in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for five days before being pronounced dead.
At the time of the incident, police found no adult present who knew the child or his parents. Video surveillance footage showed the child entering the water and then slipping from the edge, submerging and appearing distressed for approximately nine minutes before being rescued.
Detectives determined that Vinson was responsible for supervising the child, his 6-year-old brother, and other children at the time. He had allegedly allowed the children to walk to the pool, located about 0.2 miles away, without adult supervision. Surveillance footage indicated Vinson was not at the pool before, during, or after the drowning.
Investigators confirmed messages between Vinson and the child’s mother that acknowledged the lack of supervision and the subsequent tragedy. Vinson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Vinson was part of the R&B group CitiLimitz, which reached the semifinals of “America’s Got Talent” Season 20 in 2025. The trio also appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2019.