SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a fatal hit-and-run will face a judge on Monday afternoon.
Gauge Brasher, 19, is scheduled to make a first appearance in court, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
Wichita police took Brasher into custody shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of E. Range Road, according to a statement from Wichita Police.
Around 6:30 p.m. August 13, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of fatal crash that killed 14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.
The preliminary investigation indicated the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a power pole and then a utility box. The impact forced the power pole and utility box into Nzabonimpa, who died on scene from his injuries.
Witnesses at the intersection identified the 19-year-old suspect Gauge Brasher, who fled as the driver. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The investigation indicated that impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the collision. Brasher was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and later left the hospital. The passenger is a 24-year-old man who was detained and later released with no charges.
Police investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, and Brasher was charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 13, crash.