A suspected drunk driver has been charged with murder after a six-year-old boy was run over three times infront of horrified family members.
The boy, who has not been formally named, was running ahead of his grandfather in a parking lot when the suspect, Pedro Alberto Hernandez, 52, allegedly hit him with his car.
Court records show, the grandfather yelled at Hernandez, who then allegedly stopped, backed up, and then ran over the child again, causing one of the tires to rest on the child's head, reports ABC13.
As the grandfather continued shouting, Hernandez is accused of running over the six-year-old a third time.
The grandfather told officers that the suspect smirked at him and tried to drive off. Hernandez was pulled from his car by the grandfather and pinned against the hood with other bystanders helping restrain him until police arrived.
The boy died at the scene.
According to police, Hernandez admitted to drinking four beers before getting in his car to drive.
Hernandez has now been charged with murder and driving while drunk (third offense).
HPD Vehicular Crimes Division Sergeant G. Clark and Officer F. Serna said: "Hernandez was driving a white Chevrolet Tahoe north through a shopping center parking lot at the above address when he struck a juvenile pedestrian running across the parking lot.
"The boy had run ahead of a family member as they were walking in the parking lot. Paramedics pronounced the child deceased at the scene."
Hernandez has a history of drink driving.
Records show he was convicted while of driving while drunk in Harris County in 2015, again in Freestone County in 2016, and Fort Bend County in 2020.
He was still serving five-year probation for the 2020 DWI conviction when the boy was killed.
His bail has been set by a judge as $600,000 for both charges.
