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Bond Reduced For Accused Child Shooter


DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Bond has been lowered for the man accused of shooting a Dallas 8-year-old boy in the face.

Brian Cloninger, 46, appeared in court Friday morning, where his attorney argued successfully to get his bond reduced from $2.2 million to $1 million.  Cloninger has been in jail since the September shooting.  If he is able to bond out of jail, he will not be allowed to have any guns in his possession or any contact with the alleged victim, Donald Maiden.

Maiden was shot in the face outside his Northeast Dallas apartment complex on September 3.  Relatives say Maiden was playing tag with a group of other children in the parking lot.

Cloninger has been charged with one count of injury to a child, but police say they have no motive.  Earlier this week, Police Chief David Brown said detectives had been unable to interview Maiden because his jaw had been wired shut.  Police hope Maiden will be able to tell them more about what happened.

Some in the community have suggested this was a hate crime.  Long-time minority activist Roy Williams says he plans to ask the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate.

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