Car passenger charged with murder for crash that killed Dallas boy, 14
DALLAS - Police announced an arrest and a murder charge for a car accident that killed a Dallas ISD middle school student.
The deadly crash happened just before 8 a.m. Friday near the intersection of Marsalis Avenue and Ledbetter Drive in East Oak Cliff.
Dallas police say 47-year-old James Grant was a passenger in a car heading down Marsalis Avenue.
Police say Grant got into a fight with the driver and assaulted them. He allegedly reached across the driver, causing the car to go off the road.
The car struck 14-year-old Jonathan Ayala who was walking in the grass, and he was killed.
The driver stopped and called 911 for help.
Police say Grant stole from the driver and then ran away. Police later found him and arrested him.
Grant is charged with felony murder for causing the teen’s death.
Dallas ISD confirmed the teen was a student at Boude Storey Middle School, about a half mile from the crash scene. Counselors are being made available for grieving students.