Teen Convicted In Carjacking Crash That Killed Boy

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), carjackings are most likely to happen in large cities or major metropolitan areas. It can be terrifying for any unsuspecting motorist to find themselves facing an armed thief who wants to take over their vehicle. Almost half of all carjacking incidents involve firearms while others are carried out with knives or other types of weapons are used to take control and steal the vehicle.

Chron.com in Houston reports that a Missouri teen has been convicted after a carjacking in April of 2017 led to the death of a 9-year-old boy and the injuring three other relatives as they were returning from a trip to Disneyworld.

The 19-year-old suspect in the case has been identified as Darian Cummings. At the age of 16, Cummings and another teen, Brian Booker, 15, carjacked an SUV on the West End side of St. Louis.

Police later spotted the vehicle, and Cummings sped away, attempting to elude police. After taking the St. Louis International Airport exit, Cummings intentionally ran a red light and crashed the SUV into a sedan being driven by the mother of nine-year-old Caleb Lee.

Also in the vehicle at the time were Caleb’s aunt and five-year-old brother.

Caleb was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, while his mother, brother, and aunt were seriously injured.

On Wednesday, a St. Louis court has found Cummings guilty of second-degree murder and two counts of robbery in the April 25, 2017 crash.

Cummings’ sentencing has been scheduled for October 10th.