Posted on 10/24/2017 1:12:09 PM PDT by Signalman
Five teenagers from Michigan have been charged with second-degree murder after being accused of throwing a rock off an overpass that killed a man, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.
Kenneth White, 32, was a passenger in a van that was traveling along I-75 near Flint, Michigan, on the night of October 18, when a 6-pound rock smashed through the windshield of the vehicle, fatally injuring him.
White was struck in the face and head, and the rock ricocheted to his chest, causing him to lose consciousness, according to Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
The driver told police he had to pass four other vehicles, which were disabled on the side of the road because of rocks, before he could pull over to get help for his friend.
Pickell and David Leyton, the county prosecutor, announced on Monday that the teens, ages 15-17, are being charged as adults with one count of second-degree murder each. They are also being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, six felony counts each of malicious destruction of property and two other lesser charges.
"It's not a prank, it's second-degree murder," said Pickell. "I don't think anybody is laughing and I think that if there's any warning that both David and I can give, is telling young people, you make a bad decision, you could be spending the rest of your life in prison."
Police said the group threw a tire and about 20 rocks, one weighing 20 pounds, off two overpasses that night, damaging several vehicles. After throwing the rock that killed White, the teens left the overpass and went to a McDonalds to eat.
"To propel the size of boulder down from the Dodge Road overpass to a 70 mph vehicle that's headed southbound, you ought to know -- a reasonable person would know -- that that is creating a high risk of great bodily harm, or in this case, death," said Leyton.
The teens will be formally arraigned in court on Tuesday.
"At the end of the day nobody wins. The young people are charged criminally, a young boy lost his father and all of the families are left grieving," said Pickell.
Happened to me near JFK. Cracked the windshield, and certainly could have killed us if it broke apart.
12 miles from my house.
I heard on the radio three days ago.
They played the inconsolable brother saying through hysterical tears “I couldn’t stop the bleeding”, “I couldn’t stop the bleeding”.
I had a very strong reaction.
Then it was all over local news last night and now it’s gone national.
Unbelievably heartbreaking.
Beyond teenage stupidity. They killed a man. Congratulations, boys. You just changed the complete arc of your life.
These lids are probably too stupid to understand the basic physics that they are throwing a rock that is essentially going 70 mph.
They probably think it would be like dropping it on a parked car.
And if not, that’s what their lawyer will argue.
They gonna love those boys down at the Detroit Corrections Facility.
Don’t give up your commissary.
Most dangerous are the large signs that I look at for people hiding behind and I switch lanes when I come up to them (if I can).
MOD for kids is to drop rocks vertically from bridge from behind the sign as a lookout calls out range and speed.
Get your ass over to another lane when you see signs like this also:
Defensive driving folks, esp. in large Democrat-led cities.
Deciding to throw a rock through a fast-moving car or truck. That’s premeditated. Conviction should lead to the gallows for the five one-time rope testers.
Photos? Names?
“White was struck in the face and head”
Wow, both the face and the head. What are the odds the rock would hit both.
I don't usually condone stuff like this - but their fellow inmates aren't gonna need their names...
The names and photos are here on another thread——which I can’t find.
.
I thought that when you're charged as an adult you lose whatever protections you might have had under juvenile justice laws.I would think that would include withholding the name of an accused.
It happened to me north of Charlotte nc I thought it was a bullet. Very serious and scary
Thanks.
On the left, 17-year-old Kyle Anger, 16-year-old Mark Sekelsky, 15-year-old Trevor Gray, 16-year-old Mikayden Payne, and 15-year-old Alexzander Miller. On the right, victim 32-year-old Kenneth White.
Post #15 has the straight dope.
Some of them boys got purty lips...
They have to be made to take the consequences of their actions. Jail for life. No parole. Age makes no difference.
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