Texas teen faces 9 murder counts after van crash that killed suspected illegal immigrants

[The Northerner]

PALMVIEW, Texas — A 15-year-old South Texas boy has been charged with nine counts of murder among other charges after a van he was driving crashed, killing nine of the suspected illegal immigrants packed inside.

The boy, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, appeared at a probable cause hearing on Monday. He was also charged with 17 counts of smuggling a person and causing serious bodily harm including death, and one count of evading.

The boy told investigators he drove the van because his family had been threatened, Palmview police Chief Chris Barrera said.

Barrera said prosecutors would decide whether to try the boy as an adult.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-teen-faces-9-murder-counts-after-van-crash-that-killed-suspected-illegal-immigrants/2012/04/16/gIQAla6YLT_story.html

[4th law of robotics]

1. "The boy told investigators he drove the van because his family had been threatened"

Not at all unlikely, given the circumstances.

[Snake Alchemist]

5. Could be. Hopefully, his family is available to corroborate. nt

[Javaman]

2. Isn't a sad that the only way illegals are treated as human beings

is only when they are dead.

I live in Texas and I see how these poor folks are treated.

I detest the right wing with a passion.

[jenwilson]

3. The word illegal in the title is offense

Could we get it removed? It implies that people are illegal.

[Snake Alchemist]

4. It is the official government terminology. nt

[npk]

6. I would agree if the headline read simply illegals killed

But it says illegal immigrants, which is perfectly acceptable. If you are an immigrant here illegally, then you are by definition an illegal immigrant. I do take offense to those who simply use the word "illegals", but in this case there is no other way to describe the situation properly. What would you suggest, that they be referred to as "non-legal immigrants"?