13-Year-Old Who Crashed Stolen Audi is Charged with Murder

ABILENE, TX — The 13-year-old male driver of the stolen vehicle in this fatal crash was released from the hospital this evening. According to the Abilene police, he was immediately taken to the Police Department and interviewed.

He has been charged with Theft of Property, Evading Arrest, Directive to Apprehend, and Murder. He was transported to the Taylor County Juvenile Detention Center.

Also injured in yesterday’s night crash, a 14-year-old male was transported to a Lubbock hospital for treatment of burns to his body. Also, a 15-year-old male was treated at Hendrick for non-life-threatening injuries.

During the course of the investigation, APD traffic Investigators determined the 13-year-old found deceased was not ejected in the crash as was originally reported.

Early this morning at 4:07 a.m. Abilene police located an occupied vehicle that was reported stolen at a north side hotel near Highway 351 and Interstate 20.  The stolen Audi collided with an unoccupied patrol vehicle.  A second officer at the scene activated the vehicle’s emergency lights in an attempt to stop the stolen vehicle.  The driver of the stolen Audi failed to stop and exited the hotel parking lot – fleeing westbound on Highway 351 toward Ambler Avenue.  

APD said officers did not actively pursue the stolen vehicle, which was reportedly last seen westbound on Ambler Avenue.

Two minutes later, the stolen Audi was involved in a major vehicle accident at the intersection of Ambler Avenue and Treadaway Boulevard in Abilene.  The vehicle crashed at a high rate of speed – striking a traffic pole.  The officers and MetroCare, who were nearby, immediately assisted by rendering aid, extracting the injured, and with fire suppression.

There had been four juvenile occupants in the vehicle:

• 13-year-old male, who was driving the vehicle and now charged with murder.
• 13-year-old male passenger, who is deceased after being ejected from the vehicle. (Reported runaway)
• 14-year-old male passenger.
• 15-year-old male passenger. (Reported runaway)

APD said the names of the individuals will be withheld due to their ages.