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Family wants justice after teen is killed in car crash

Posted at 11:27 PM, Apr 30, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-01 06:28:50-04

James City County, Va. - Three years ago, a horrible crash occurred. A van that now sits in an evidence lot at police headquarters rolled several times before hitting a dump truck.

Six people were injured and 14-year-old Brashawnta Brooks was killed.

As devastating as it was, his mom, Sakina Brooks, says at the time, she truly believed it was an accident.

Now she feels differently about the man who police say was behind the wheel—Gary Jerome Turner.

“I consider him a murderer," says Brooks.

Police say Turner had marijuana in his system when he crashed.

He was indicted by a grand jury in 2012, but he's been hiding from officers ever since.

“When you didn't come and you didn't face the consequences that you made happen, you became a murderer. That's it," says Sakina Brooks. “People who do accidents, they're going to turn themselves in; murderers are going to run.”

Police say they believe he's still in the area since he has ties to the victim's family.

He's the father of Brashawanta's cousin.

Turner faces a long list of charges including maiming while DWI, involuntary manslaughter and child neglect among other things.

They have gotten tips about where he is, but they say every time they get one, he's gone by the time they get there.

“We don't have any closure, so until he is behind bars, that's the only way we're going to get closure," says Brooks.