(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) A black man in Aurora, Colo., won’t be charged with a hate crime for intentionally mowing down white children with his car.
After spotting a group of 11- and 12-year-old white boys walking home from school while he was driving down a suburban street, 21-year-old Colorado resident Oghaleoghene Atunu circled the area before slowly pulling up behind the children and then mowing down two of the three children before leaving the scene of the crime, Fox 31 reported.
One of the victims was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries, while another boy walked away with only minor injuries.
Atunu was arrested after a local citizen identified his 2004 Buick Rendezvous.
Despite both the investigators and the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office confirming that the crash was intentional — since Atunu circled the area as if to find the best way to create the most damage, as shown by the surveillance video — it was concluded that he won’t face a hate crime charge.
However, he was still charged with 15 counts, among which were 3 counts of attempted first-degree murder, 2 counts of attempted first-degree assault, 2 counts of child abuse, 1 count of first-degree assault, 1 count of failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injuries and 1 count of vehicular assault.
In addition to these counts, there was also 1 count of failure to notify police of an accident, 1 count of hit-and-run, 1 count of reckless driving, 1 count of driving a vehicle with an expired driver’s license and 1 count of failure to observe/disregard a traffic control device.
Atunu gaslighted everyone, despite the footage that captured his crime, by saying that he hit the children only because he lost control of his vehicle, adding that he fled the scene because he became scared.
“This case is a prime example of the incredible skills and untiring determination our members have every day to ensure Colorado is as safe as possible. Without a doubt, everyone involved in this investigation is working to ensure the demands of justice are met,” Colorado State Patrol Chief Matthew Packard said.
