The story
A 7-year-old boy has died after he was struck near Four Oaks on Sunday by a suspected drunken driver who fled after the crash.
The state Highway Patrol will consult with the Johnston District Attorney’s Office about a possible charge of second-degree murder in the death of Marcus Lassiter, 7, of Selma.
The child had been in Duke Hospital since the accident. He died overnight.
The patrol already has charged a Four Oaks man who identified himself as Pollo Hernandez Rodriguez with felony hit and run, felony assault, driving while intoxicated, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving without a license, speeding and reckless driving.
But officials have not confirmed that the man gave his real name. “We are working on a couple of leads,” said Sgt. K.D. Bell said today. “Hopefully we’ll find something out by the end of the day.”
Officials also were uncertain about the man’s immigration status.
The patrol said the man’s blood alcohol content when he was arrested was .21, more than twice the the legal limit of 0.08.
Now we are just waiting to see if Rodriguez is a legal immigrant or has a temporary visa, or is here illegally.
He’s fat Al Gore’s landscaper and grass cutter!