California man responsible of killing 3 after doorbell prank
A Southern California man accused of killing three 16-year-old boys by deliberately ramming their automobile after they performed a doorbell-ringing prank on him has been discovered responsible of homicide
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A Southern California man accused of killing three teenage boys by deliberately ramming their automobile after they performed a doorbell-ringing prank on him was discovered responsible Friday of homicide.
Anurag Chandra was convicted in a Riverside County courtroom of three counts of first-degree homicide and three counts of tried homicide.
“The homicide of those younger males was a horrendous and mindless tragedy for our neighborhood. I thank the jury for his or her verdict. This is a vital step towards justice,” county District Lawyer Mike Hestrin mentioned in a press release.
Chandra’s legal professional, David Wohl, didn’t instantly return a request for remark Friday.
The victims, who have been all 16 years previous, have been amongst six teenagers inside a Toyota Prius on Jan. 19, 2020 when Chandra deliberately rammed their car off the street and fled, prosecutors mentioned.
The Prius’ driver misplaced management and the sedan slammed right into a tree in Temescal Valley, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
The chums had dared one boy to both leap right into a pool at night time or play “ding dong ditch.”
Chandra, who did not know the teenagers, testified at trial that one of many boys rang his doorbell and uncovered his buttocks earlier than working away, based on The Riverside Press-Enterprise. Chandra testified that he adopted as a result of he feared for his household’s security and needed to specific his anger. He mentioned he was “extraordinarily, extraordinarily mad” from the prank.
Chandra additionally testified that he drank 12 beers within the hours earlier than the crash, the newspaper reported. He mentioned he didn’t plan to crash into the Prius and testified that he didn’t cease after rear-ending the sedan as a result of he didn’t understand anybody had been injured — although he admitted beneath cross-examination that he had been driving 99 mph (159 kph) earlier than the collision.
The crash killed Daniel Hawkins of Corona; Drake Ruiz of Corona; and Jacob Ivascu of Riverside, based on the Riverside County coroner’s workplace.
Sergio Campusano was the Prius’ 18-year-old driver on the time. He and then-13-year-olds Joshua Hawkins and Joshua Ivascu survived the crash. They testified on the trial and have been within the courtroom when the decision was learn.
Chandra already was going through prison costs in reference to alleged home violence in 2020 when the killings occurred.
