HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Three minors face first-degree murder charges after a police chase in Homestead led to a fatal crash, authorities said.
Homestead police Detective Fernando Morales said in a news release that one of the robbery suspects, Jeremiah Hightower, 14, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car, died Thursday at Kendall Regional Medical Center.
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Police said they received multiple calls early Wednesday from different victims who claimed that they had been robbed while walking in the area of Northwest 15th Street and Krome Avenue.
The victims gave police the same description of the getaway vehicle, and officers attempted to pull over the driver a short time later.
Police said the driver refused to stop and led police on a chase.
Authorities said the driver lost control of the car and crashed in the area of 1500 Palm Drive.
Hightower was airlifted to Kendall Regional Medical Center and another person was taken by ground to Homestead Hospital before being airlifted to Kendall Regional.
Police said the five other people in the car bailed out of the vehicle. Two were taken into custody quickly, while the other three ran into the Cali Greens community, police said.
Authorities said some of the suspects hid in an unlocked vehicle, but were found with the help of K-9 units and a SWAT team.
Police said the driver faces charges of first-degree murder, vehicular homicide, aggravated fleeing and eluding police and driving without a license involving a death.
Two passengers, who are also minors and allegedly participated in the armed robberies, also face first-degree murder charges.
"This is an important reminder for those that attempt to flee the police while in the commission of a felony. Any deaths caused will elevate the charges," Morales said.
The suspects' ages and identities have not been released.