Relatives of the 6-month-old Hispanic baby who died in Illinois in an accident when the occupants of a stolen vehicle hit the car in which they were, questioned that the adolescents suspected of the crime were only charged with minor crimes.
“You took the life of that baby. They took that baby’s breath away. So that? All because they wanted a car excursion and steal someone else’s car”, questioned the activist Andrew Holmes as quoted this week by WGN 9.
In the accident, the two older sisters of Cristian Uvida and the mother of the three were also injured.
For her part, a relative of the victims, identified as Annelisse Rivera, told the aforementioned television station that Cristian was the light of their lives and a baby who loved to sing and dance.
“I don’t know what the price of the car was, but I’m sure it’s not equivalent to the child’s life,” Rivera said.
Authorities indicated that the tragedy was reported on Sunday, April 16, at about 5 pm, in the 4400 block of West Washington. The occupants of the stolen Hyundai vehicle were traveling west on the street when they struck a pick-up truck.
Witnesses reported that four people were in the stolen car at the time of the accident.
Days later, the Chicago police reported that they arrested two minors, ages 17 and 14, respectively. Both were charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass. However, the accusations could be updated depending on what the investigation turns up.
In Holmes’ view, the charges are a “slap on the wrist.”
“I think the authorities and the state attorney’s office have to make sure they’re doing this right. Obviously, family, this is a horrible tragedy. The family and the public want to close this and receive answers, but they have to make sure that they are doing it right, “said attorney Joe Roddy for his part.
According to the analysis of the legal expert, who is not connected to the case, the authorities must evaluate the available evidence to see if it supports the most serious charge.
“You have to look at the highest charge here, which is reckless homicide, and what is the type of evidence that could support this,” he said.
Roddy added that other factors or circumstances could help to consider charges of possession of a stolen vehicle.
The lawyer stressed that there are still key questions that have not been answered, such as whether the defendants are in fact the ones behind the wheel at the time of the event.