Murder charge dismissed in officer’s hit-and-run death
DETROIT (AP) — A judge has dismissed a second-degree murder charge against a motorist in the hit-and-run death of a Detroit police officer.
The Wayne County prosecutor’s office said Tuesday that 19-year-old Jonathan Cole was ordered to stand trial for reckless driving causing death and failure to stop at the scene of an accident.
Officer Fadi Shukur was hit Aug. 4 while helping disperse a crowd after a party. He died of his injuries.
Judge Kenneth King ruled in the 36th District Court that the only aggravating factor presented in the case was speed, and concluded there was insufficient evidence to bond Cole over on second-degree murder.
The prosecutor’s office says it will try to reinstate the murder charge.
Cole of Belleville is expected to be arraigned Friday in circuit court.
Christensen Law awards 2018 Distracted Driving Scholarship
Christensen Law has named Alexis Williams the winner of its annual Distracted Driving Scholarship.
In its third year, this scholarship was developed as part of Christensen’s Law commitment to helping students who are in need of financial assistance pay for college, while raising awareness about the tragic impact of distracted driving.
“Whether it’s reading a text or changing the radio station, distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic that can lead to devastating accidents,” said David Christensen, founder of Christensen Law. “As a Michigan car accident attorney, we’ve seen the tragic effects of distracted driving firsthand.” Thousands of people are killed every year by distracted driving accidents.
Williams’ essay was a personal account of the dangers of distracted driving, as she remembered a friend and fellow cheerleader lost to a distracted driving accident in 2016. She went on to explain how this experience affects her to this day, and keeps her from using her phone behind the wheel.
“I think that for some people, distracted driving needs to hit them deeply and personally,” said Williams, “but the best thing that people can do to raise awareness is to talk about it.”
Christensen Law received 125 entries for this year’s scholarship. Williams’ essay was picked for its clear understanding of the topic, and dedication to preventing further tragedy.
Williams will be using the scholarship at the University of Texas in Austin, where she is studying Stage Management.
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