California Man Convicted Of Murder After Plowing Car Into Three Teens Who Pranked Him

California Man Convicted of Murder After Killing Three Teenagers in Doorbell Prank Gone Wrong

Anurag Chandra, a 45-year-old man from California, has been convicted of murder after he plowed his car into a group of teenagers who had played a “ding dong ditch” prank on him. The incident occurred in 2020 and resulted in the death of three 16-year-old boys and injuries to three others. Chandra was found guilty on Friday and faces life in prison without parole.

The Tragic Incident

On January 19, 2020, Chandra responded to the prank by chasing the teenagers in his vehicle and driving up to 99 miles per hour. He eventually smashed into their Toyota Prius, forcing it off the road and into a tree. Daniel Hawkins, Drake Ruiz, and Jacob Ivascu were killed in the crash. Sergio Campusano, who was driving the car, survived but was left shaken and injured.

The Trial and Verdict

During the trial, Chandra claimed that he had drunk 12 beers over a period of 2.5 hours before the incident. He also said that he did not intentionally hit the Prius but rammed into it after it had hit the brakes. However, the jury found him guilty of murder, and he will be sentenced in July.

The Victims’ Families Speak Out

The families of the victims expressed relief that justice had been served. “We had a reasonable jury that looked at the facts and realized that the facts speak louder than words — or lying words from the defendant,” said Alex Ivascu, the father of two of the victims. Craig Hawkins, another father of two of the victims, criticized Chandra for his lack of contrition and ownership. “Here is a guy who we think murdered our sons, and he takes no ownership. No contrition. That’s so insulting,” he said.

Conclusion

The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of responding to pranks with violence. It also highlights the importance of responsible alcohol consumption and the devastating consequences of drunk driving. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this difficult time.

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