Posted on 06/20/2007 1:21:20 PM PDT by Baladas
The man responsible for the death of Tennessee State University senior is an illegal immigrant, police said Tuesday.
Joycelyn Gardiner, 22, died Saturday morning when a car, driven by a drunk driver, plowed into her car.
The driver, 24-year-old Victor Benitez, is an undocumented immigrant who has been in trouble with the law before.
On Tuesday, News 2 spoke exclusively with his roommate, Margarito Lopez, who said he knew something was wrong when he got a call from Benitez Saturday night.
"He told me that he got himself into some trouble,” Lopez said. “He told me he got into a car accident and hit a......woman, and she died."
Benitez is charged with vehicular homicide.
His criminal record dates back to 2003 in Houston, Texas.
Police there charged him with making and selling drugs and trespassing.
In Nashville, Metro Police said Benitez tried to steal three cars in Antioch in 2006.
Prosecutors involved with the previous case admitted their frustration with Saturday accident.
(Excerpt) Read more at wkrn.com ...
Wight=White
“It is a recognized fact that excessive drinking is more of a problem among Hispanic males.”
Combine that with the fact that most have probably never owned or operated a vehicle, don’t read English, don’t know the laws, and you have a recipe for disaster.
“What do we do when our own government will not enforce the law?”
Well, we could target the companies that are lobbying Congress and the White House to pass this legislative excrement. However, I haven’t seen an article where such companies are identified.
Maybe some energetic young reporter could make himself famous on this...
Another good man murdered by an illegal.
Hey! George Bush! Are you paying any attention to this at all? It doesn’t seem like you are. Instead, you seem like you will do virtually anything to get those Mexicans into our country, even though over 75% of Americans don’t want you to! What was it that convinced you not to listen to the people who put you in office? What was it that told you that the people who supported you through the worst of times are now irrelevant? I wish you would answer, because I really need to know.
Good idea!
I hate to say it, but we have a renegade president, and a completely corrupt senate.
“Well, we could target the companies that are lobbying Congress and the White House to pass this legislative excrement”
They have our President on their side..........sick as it is. They fear us not a bit.
Actually, Nashville law enforcement is doing more about it these days. They are linked into the federal database and check those who do not have the proper documentation to determine if they are legally in the country. They will turn him over to ICE for deportation after he serves his sentence. The question is, will ICE deport him, and will our current "immigration policy" keep him from returning to the country?
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6676774
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Tennessee State University student died Saturday when another driver broadsided her vehicle on Old Hickory Boulevard.
Metro police said 24-year-old Victor Benitez was drunk as he ran a red light at the intersection of Old Hickory Boulevard and Nolensville Road, killing 22-year-old Joycelyn Gardiner.
"Just a tremendous young lady, from all accounts, who had all types of potential," said Don Aaron, Metro police spokesman.
"According to the witnesses who attempted to render aid to both victims, Benitez smelled strongly of alcohol and was very combative," Aaron said.
Investigators said Benitez was drunk and did not touch the brakes of his Ford Expedition before hitting Gardiner's car.
Gardiner and Benitez were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where Gardiner died. Benitez was treated and released from the hospital and jailed Saturday afternoon.
"Because of this crash that apparently involves alcohol by the other driver, her life is lost," Aaron said.
Police said Benitez was driving without a license and that he didn't have paperwork verifying that he was in the United States legally.
"They learned that he is a suspected illegal immigrant, thus, a federal hold was placed on him so he cannot make bond," Aaron said.
In February 2006, Benitez was arrested on three counts of car burglary and two counts of attempted theft. Nine months later, he was arrested on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Convicted on the three charges, Benitez spent seven days in jail.
The Mexican native now faces a vehicular homicide charge. His preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday.
"This is just a devastating story for Tennessee State University," Aaron said.
Gardiner ran track for the Tigerbelles.
Authorities realized Benitez's possible illegal status thanks to a new program that links into the federal data base.
Benitez did have an identification card from Houston, Texas.
Gardiner, a Texas native, planned to attend law school after graduation.
TSU plans to hold a memorial service for Gardiner.
I see absolutely no reason why they couldn't.
If the government doesn't enforce highway construction safety regulations they are held liable, or should be. (Say their lack of enforcement of regulations leeds to a 2' gap in a highway that causes an accident, even a death.)
One of the government's main jobs is to protect us from invasion. Why? Because invaders would steal from us and/or kill us. That's exactly what's happened here.
Are there any lawyers here? Seems to me the public has a good case if the lack of enforcement leads almost directly to the injury of the individual or general public.
Point of order: Bush was president in 2003, and he’s never been mayor of Houston.
Another good woman murdered by an illegal.
There, I fixed it.
Please see link at post 20. Another victim.
Do we really need more reasons to call our representatives in Washington, D.C.?
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Oops, sorry!
The illegals sure seem to kill our very best citizens...............a girl about to enter law school, a cop, a national merit scholar......they are killing our very best!
If only the bill had passed, she could have been killed by a legalized immigrant.
ping
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