CINCINNATI — Court documents show the 17-year-old suspect, arrested in connection with a crash that killed one University of Cincinnati student and sent another to the hospital has a criminal history.
"There's a type of offender in our community that you don't get through to," said Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters. "They're violent."
Police charged the teen with aggravated vehicular homicide and "several other felonies" for driving the car involved in a crash on Jefferson Avenue Wednesday afternoon.
Deters said the suspect was previously in custody in connection to trying to run an officer over in Boone County. Deters said the suspect and a group of kids stole a car and hit the deputy while attempting to flee.
While on probation, Deters said the suspect was caught with a firearm in Hamilton County.
In June, a juvenile service clinician noted the suspect had experienced recent traumas in his life, including a close family member’s death, witnessing his best friend killed by gun violence and being robbed at gunpoint, according to documents provided by the court. The clinician noted the suspect would benefit from therapy.
Prosecutors said the suspect was previously given an ankle monitor. According to the judge, he had cut it off.
"He's supposed to go in and get it back to normal, and he didn't come in," Deters said. "He never showed up. They finally issue a warrant for him, and then he runs down two innocent people. ... When you deal with violent people, you can't put them on an ankle bracelet. They don't care. They don't care that they're on an ankle bracelet."
Police said the suspect sped through a red light last Wednesday before hitting two UC students in a marked crosswalk near campus. When first responders arrived at the scene, the Cincinnati Fire Department said they found the two women in the middle of the street. Cayden Turner, 18, was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other 18-year-old sustained serious injuries and is currently in the hospital. Turner, a Moraine native, graduated from Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton.
"I want to share our deepest condolences with the family of our student whose life was taken far too soon," University President Neville G. Pinto said. "For our injured student, our hopes remain focused on a full recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families and their loved ones."
UC officials said they are working with the city to improve pedestrian safety on campus, including adding crossing guards and boosting police patrols.
The suspect is next due in court Oct. 13 when he could learn whether he’ll be tried as an adult.
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