Teen No Longer Charged With Murder In Police Chase That Killed Pedestrian

WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A 17-year-old is no longer being charged with murder after a pedestrian was killed during a high-speed chase Tuesday night.

The teen driver didn't hit the man - an officer did.

The accident happened at West Capitol and Pine streets.

It was a grisly scene. A West Sacramento police officer, rushing to join in the pursuit, slammed into a pedestrian, killing him on impact.

The coroner's office has yet to release the name of the victim, but we've learned he was a transient living in West Sacramento. The suspect's name is being withheld because of his age.

West Sacramento police say they were in pursuit of a stolen vehicle Tuesday night when the 17-year-old driver sped off. The teen crashed into a parked car a few miles away and ran.

A neighbor tackled him and a crowd held him down until police rolled up.

"If they didn't put them on a high-speed chase to begin with, then it would have never happened," resident Nick Monroe said.

On West Capitol, people think the teen should face stiff penalties.

"He caused the whole situation," WC Johnson said. "I mean, he wouldn't have chased him if he didn't steal the vehicle."

The suspect faces felony counts of vehicle theft and possession of stolen property, among others infractions.