Man Charged With Murder After Crash Kills 12-Year-Old

DALLAS-HIRAM, GA — A 35-year-old man was arrested on charges of murder after a fatal crash killed a 12-year-old boy, Paulding County authorities said Monday.

On Friday at 1:09 a.m., a state trooper attempted to pull over a Kia Sorrento that was speeding on Bethel Church Road in Paulding County, according to an emailed statement from the Georgia State Patrol. The driver pulled over but refused to lower his window or provide identification.

It was later discovered that the man, Charles Wilson Moore, was driving with a suspended license, according to a statement from the Paulding County sheriff’s office. Moore appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, according to the sheriff.

Eventually, the deputy broke the side window of Moore’s car. At that point, Moore drove over the deputy’s foot and sped away.

A high-speed chase along Highway 92 ensued until officers used a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) that caused Moore’s vehicle to flip over and crash into a ditch. When officers recovered the vehicle, they found that 12-year-old Leden Boykins, who was sitting in the back seat and not wearing a seatbelt, had died.

Moore and the other passenger, 14-year-old Blake Zyier, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Boykins’ family told 11 Alive News that he was staying with his grandmother while his parents were in Michigan for a family funeral. His grandmother, Patricia Williams, told Boykins he could join his friend and neighbor on the way to a job cleaning parking lots at night. Moore was his neighbor.

Williams told 11 Alive that he called her right before died. “He said, ‘Granny, I’m on my way, I’m almost home.’ And he didn’t come,” she said.

Moore is facing a number of charges, including:

• Murder During the Commission of a Felony
• Homicide by Vehicle in 1st Degree
• Fleeing and Attempting to Elude
• DUI- Alcohol
• Endangering a CHild While DUI of Alcohol or Durgs