Suspected illegal immigrants arrested in hit-and-run killing of 14-year-old Georgia boy

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged detainers on the two suspected illegal immigrants accused of killing a 14-year-old Georgia boy in a hit-and-run on Sunday evening. Miguel Reyes-Castro, 32, and Olvin Antonio Ramos, 29, both face felony charges of tampering with evidence and misdemeanor obstruction. The pair has been booked into the Chatham County Detention Center.

Authorities said Anderson was riding an electric bike when he was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Ferguson Avenue and Glade Street around 7 pm on December 28. The vehicle fled the scene, and Anderson was pronounced dead at the hospital.


Miguel Angel Reyes-Castro (left) and Olvin Antonio Ramos-Ramos (right). Courtesy: Chatham County Sheriff's Office.

After reviewing security footage from residential cameras, private communities, and the Chatham Police Department's flock system, detectives tracked a vehicle of interest to Tybee Island, which led to the arrests of Reyes-Castro and Ramos. "We still have a lot of work to do to bring maybe some stronger charges as we go forward, but a lot of hard work went into that in a very short amount of time," CCPD Chief Jeff Hadley told reporters.

ICE quickly lodged immigration detainers after receiving knowledge of the arrests, according to local news outlets. ICE detainers are an official request asking law enforcement agencies to hold a suspect for up to 48 hours before they are scheduled to be released, "so DHS has time to assume custody in accordance with federal immigration law," according to its website. Additionally, detainers are only lodged "against aliens when there's probable cause to believe that the person is removable from the United States under federal immigration law."

It's unclear which country or countries the two suspects originate from. Police could not provide further comment on the incident as the investigation is ongoing.

Anderson's heartbroken family described him as an "amazing kid," and held a memorial for the young teen on Tuesday at the intersection where he was killed. "The kid needs to be known," Jacob Pilcher, a friend of Anderson's, told WTOC. "He was one of the best kids I've ever met, and I don't think it ever will click because this isn't real."

Chief Hadley urged parents to inform their kids about road safety as e-bikes gain popularity. "These are young kids, 10, 11, riding, going 25, 30 miles an hour. It just takes one car to pull out or a squirrel or something like that, and they could get injured pretty good," said Hadley.