Hit & Run Suspect Rashad Charjuan Owens Charged With Capital Murder In The Deaths Of Two People At The SXSW Music Festival
Hit and run suspect Rashad Charjuan Owens has been charged with capital murder after fleeing police and driving through a barricade at the SXSW Music Festival last Wednesday, killing two people and injuring 23 others. Owens, 21, faces two counts of capital murder and 23 counts of aggravated assault. According to a recent report from the Associated Press, Owens' criminal record indicates previous convictions for criminal trespassing in Texas and drunken driving in Alaska. Three of the 23 people injured are still listed in critical condition. Dr. Christopher Ziebell, director of the emergency department at the University Medical Center-Brackenridge, expressed grave concern for those patients:
"We are going to do our best for them, but these are some of the worst injuries that we see and not everybody with these kinds of injuries is going to survive,"
Steven Craenmehr of Amsterdam and Jamie Ranae West of Austin were killed in the crash. Craenmehr was reportedly riding a bicycle at the time of the accident, while West was on a moped. West's husband, Evan West was listed amongst those hospitalized with injuries. The names of the other people injured have not been released.
