Violet mother calls for justice after her son was dragged to death
By Cassie Schirm
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VIOLET, La. (WDSU) — A 16-year-old boy is dead after being dragged and run over during an altercation with another teen in St. Bernard Parish, deputies said.
The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened Monday night on Meraux Lane in Violet.
Deputies identified the victim as Franklin Osmar Ayala Linares.
According to investigators, surveillance video shows Ayala approaching a white van, where an altercation occurred with the driver. Authorities said the driver attempted to leave while Ayala was still holding onto the vehicle, dragging him down the road before he fell into the roadway and was run over.
When deputies arrived, they found Ayala lying in the street with critical injuries. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
A 15-year-old has been arrested in connection with the case and is facing charges of negligent homicide and hit-and-run resulting in death. His identity has not been released because he is a juvenile.
Deputies said the two teens likely knew each other. The investigation remains ongoing.
A neighbor who lives nearby said family members were the first to spot Ayala in the roadway.
“My daughter pulled up and saw something in the street,” the neighbor said. “At first, she thought it was something that fell out of a truck.”
The neighbor said that when they got closer, they realized it was a person.
“He was just lying there, kind of curled up, just moaning,” the neighbor said. “We didn’t know if he had been hit or if it was some kind of medical issue. We called 911 right away.”
The neighbor said deputies arrived within minutes, followed shortly by emergency crews.
The neighbor also said home surveillance cameras captured parts of what happened before the incident, including a van driving down the street with its lights off, slowing down and briefly stopping before leaving the area.
Ayala’s mother, Dilia Laneris, said her son had just finished dinner at home shortly before the incident.
“He was finished eating dinner when he got a message, my daughter asked if it was his girlfriend,” Laneris said through a translator. “He just laughed, went outside with a trash bag, and he didn’t come back.”
She said she is now asking for justice.
“I would like for everyone to help me get justice for my son. I don’t want revenge, just justice for his death,” she said. “It can’t stay like this.”
Laneris said she wants her son to be remembered as a happy and playful teenager.
“He was a very happy son. He liked to play with the girls. He was very playful,” she said. “He loved to play games and be with me while I cooked dinner.”
Family members said they are now working to raise money to bring Ayala’s body back to Honduras so his father can see him one last time and lay him to rest.
“May he have a Christian burial, and that my daddy see him one last time,” his sister said.
The driver involved has been identified by investigators as a 15-year-old boy. Authorities have not released his name because he is a juvenile.
Deputies said the teen was taken into custody following the incident and booked on charges of negligent homicide and hit-and-run resulting in death
Deputies said the investigation remains ongoing.
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