Boy, 14, Charged As Juvenile In Hit-And-Run That Killed Third-Grader

Baltimore Police say a 14-year-old boy has been taken into custody and will be charged with vehicular manslaughter in Thursday's hit-and-run that killed a third-grader.

As he is being charged as a juvenile, his name will not be made public, police spokesman T.J. Smith said.

"This kid's 14, made a horrible, horrible, horrible mistake, made a horrible, horrible, horrible decision," Smith said. "And it's two lives that are forever damaged. One is gone, the other is in the system, so it's a tragedy all the way around."

He declined to elaborate on the boy's criminal record, if any, citing the fact he is a juvenile. The boy was apprehended at his home.

Just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday, a police officer activated her lights and sirens and attempted to stop the driver of a Jeep Liberty after receiving a call about suspicious activity. The caller said the driver was driving up and down the 1700 block of Ramsey Street and said they believed the vehicle may have been stolen.

The officer found the vehicle in the 300 block of South Gilmore Street and began an attempted car stop. The driver then sped away from the police officer. The driver continued to travel northbound on South Gilmore Street and drove through the red light at the intersection of West Lombard Street, striking a vehicle that was traveling westbound on Lombard Street.

The driver then struck a crossing guard and 9-year-old Amirah Kinlaw before hitting several parked cars and coming to a rest. The driver then got out and fled.

Amirah was taken to Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital, where she died. City school officials said the girl was a third-grade student at Steuart Hill Academic Academy.

The driver of the struck vehicle on Lombard Street was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, and a boy suffered minor injuries after he was struck by debris.

Police say they are still seeking more information about Thursday's events, and ask those with tips to call their crash team at 410-396-2606 or 1-866-7LOCKUP.