MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – The father of a man convicted of fatally shooting a 12-year-old boy in Minneapolis has pleaded guilty to his role in the crime. Letterance Grady, 42, entered a guilty plea on Friday to charges of aiding an offender and harboring or concealing to avoid arrest for his involvement in the death of 12-year-old London Bean. This marks a significant development in the tragic case that has gripped the community.
According to court records, Letterance Grady was accused of driving his son, then 18-year-old Jeremiah Grady, to and from the shooting scene in the Sumner-Glenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis on Sept. 8, 2021. Jeremiah arrived at a house and fired shots at Bean as the 12-year-old was involved in a fight with his younger brother. Bean sustained gunshot wounds and later died in the hospital.
Initially denying his involvement, Letterance Grady was captured on surveillance videos driving his son, and Jeremiah claimed his father encouraged him to retaliate and told him to shoot from the car. Prosecutors charged Letterance with multiple felonies, including aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
Letterance’s trial was set to begin on Jan. 2, 2024, but he submitted a change of plea just days before. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 5, and under the terms of the plea agreement, he could spend 10 years behind bars, according to court records. Jeremiah Grady was previously sentenced to 30.5 years for second-degree murder and 15.25 years for attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of Bean.
This guilty plea from Letterance Grady represents a step toward justice for the family of London Bean, as the community continues to grapple with the senseless act of violence that led to the young boy’s death. The sentencing of both father and son will mark the closing chapter in this tragic case that has left a lasting impact on Minneapolis.