Leden Boykins was killed in a maneuver used by a state trooper to turn over a speeding car that the boy was driving. The driver was charged.
A young boy was killed in Georgia after the car he was driving in was turned over by a maneuver used by a state trooper in an attempt to stop the speeding vehicle.
Leden Boykins was a passenger in a car that was being driven by someone suspected of being under the influence of alcohol when the soldier was performing a Pursuit Immobilization Technique – or PIT – maneuver. In it, a police vehicle jams the rear of the car in pursuit to make the vehicle skid.
The 12-year-old was accompanying a neighbor and his grieving family believe the soldier could have done more to save the boy’s life.
Leden Boykins (above) was killed in Georgia after the car the 12-year-old was in was turned over by a state trooper maneuver. (Photo: NBC News)
The boy was with his grandmother in Paulding County, Georgia while his parents were out of town to attend a funeral. His grandmother had allowed Leden to drive to the man’s work with the neighbor and young son.
On the way home, soldiers say the driver was stopped for speeding and unable to show his driver’s license and instead drove away. They found that the man drove “recklessly” 3.5 miles.
However, the family claims the soldiers knew there were children in the car.
“What I know is when you see these kids your decision-making process should get underway.” Anthony Boykinssaid the boy’s father. “But couldn’t they put up a roadblock and protect these children? You couldn’t find any other way than to turn the car around? “
In a report by 11Alive, the family said their son’s body was released for an autopsy without their permission and that they currently have no knowledge of where it is or when it will be returned to them. The coroner told the news agency they had informed the family about the autopsy.
Young Leden’s mother, Toni Franklin-BoykinsShe told NBC News that her son was “deprived of his life” and called using the PIT maneuver “a very bad decision on your part”.
The neighbor who drives the car Charlie MooreHe is now faced with a list of charges including murder in the commission of a crime, first degree murder by a vehicle, and grievous bodily harm against a peace officer. He was also charged with DUI for having an open container in a motor vehicle and driving with a driver’s license revoked.
The story goes on
Georgia State Troopers are investigating whether legal action will be taken against the participating trooper.
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The 12-year-old Georgia Post boy who was killed in an accident following a police chase first appeared on TheGrio.
