Two teenage Chicago boys have been issued misdemeanor charges after they allegedly robbed a car and crashed into another vehicle that killed a six-month-old baby.
The deadly incident occurred on April 16 in the city’s West Garfield Park neighborhood, as reported by The New York Post.
The unidentified boys - ages 17 and 14 - were each charged with just one misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing. The police have revealed that the charges could be upgraded as the investigation continues.
Law enforcement stated that the two boys were driving in a stolen Hyundai when they slammed into a Ford pickup truck at an intersection of West Washington Boulevard and North Kostner Avenue shortly after 5PM.
In the pickup were the infant Cristian Uvidia and his family. The baby was tragically killed in the collision, while his mother and two older sisters were hospitalized for their injuries, per ABC 7.
According to a GoFundMe page created for the family, Cristian's skull was fractured in the impact. Cousin Annelisse Rivera wrote: "He suffered from an impact that fractured his skull, causing his brain to swell and eventually killing him."
"We are devastated, and we are broken. We will miss his sweet smile, as he was a joy to everyone that he met," she added. "Part of the money will also go towards medical expenses, as mom and sisters are currently in the hospital with injuries but in stable condition."
Speaking to WGN9, Rivera shared the baby will be remembered as being happy and full of life, saying: "He always had this big smile on his face, he loved to sing and dance."
"It's been a rough few days, it's felt like ten years," she added. "This is like truly all of our worst nightmares." After the collision, neighbors ran outside to pull Cristian out of the vehicle and attempt CPR but "unfortunately, he was brain dead, and then the next day he passed".
"They stole a car, and they stole our entire lives in that one instant. I don't know what the price of the car was, but I'm sure it wasn't equivalent to the life of a child," Rivera went on. "Heaven has the most beautiful angel right now, and we know we'll see him again one day."
According to The New York Post, a Chicago police spokesperson disclosed on Sunday (April 23) evening that no further charges have been brought against the teenagers.
Rivera described the misdemeanor charges as "disheartening" in an interview with Fox 32 Chicago. "Your however-minutes-long joyride ruined our life completely," she added.
Two other teenagers were also inside the car, but they have not been charged.
