14-year-old Illahje Davis to be tried in adult court in hit-and-run

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A judge ruled on Thursday, May 9th that a case against 14-year-old Illahje Davis will proceed in adult court. Davis is accused of driving a stolen car and striking and killing bicyclist Ronald Forbes near 65th and Hampton last August.

Davis faces charges including first degree reckless homicide, hit-and-run resulting in death and operating a vehicle without the owner's consent.

She and her friends allegedly stole a car and later struck and killed 60-year-old Ronald Forbes, who was riding his bicycle to work.

The complaint indicates Davis and another person had stolen the car from a home on N. 39th St. and was seen driving the vehicle at a high rate of speed. According to the passenger in the car who talked to police, she warned Davis to watch out for the bicyclist. But the complaint says Davis seemed to be driving right toward the victim intentionally.

The complaint says after striking Forbes, Davis "was laughing about striking the victim stating something like, 'He shouldn't have been in the street.'"

After some investigation, officers tracked down the accused at a home on N. 39th St. In the complaint, Davis stated, "I was going fast, about 80 mph and the music was loud." She told officers she went through a red light at 68th and Hampton, and then through a second light. Moments later, she apparently "saw a lot of traffic then heard a 'bump or boom' noise and turned around."

Immediately after the crash, the complaint indicates Davis turned the corner, parked the car and jumped into another vehicle that had pulled up behind her. She asked the boys in that vehicle to take her home. On the way home, that vehicle ran out of gas and the complaint says "she tried to steal another van to get home."

Davis was initially found not competent to stand trial. However, a doctors report concluded Davis was likely to regain competency.

A judge has been working to determine whether Davis should be tried in juvenile or adult court throughout the case.

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