Suspect’s car strikes teens; one dead
THOUSAND OAKS (AP) — The driver of a car that crashed into a group of Thousand Oaks high school students, killing one and injuring three, was arrested for investigation of murder and other crimes, including an earlier stabbing, authorities said Wednesday.
The students were struck while on a sidewalk Tuesday afternoon near Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks. The car overturned.
“Eyewitnesses said that they actually saw the suspect make an intentional move to drive his vehicle up onto the sidewalk,” said Deputy Wendell Campbell, public information officer for the Thousand Oaks Police Department.
Campbell said he did not know if investigators had determined a motive.
Austin Eis, 24, was booked into jail on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, attempted robbery, burglary, brandishing a firearm, resisting arrest, kidnapping, felony use of tear gas and assault with a deadly weapon, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Eis faces arraignment today. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney.
The boy who was killed was identified as 15-year-old Wesley Welling of Thousand Oaks. His sister Hannah told KTLA-TV she saw it happen and called her mother and 911.
“I pulled up to the scene and they were still doing CPR on him,” his mother, Kelly Welling, told the station. “It’s literally the worst call, the worst nightmare that any parent can deal with.”
Another 15-year-old boy and two girls, ages 16 and 14, were injured. One victim remained hospitalized, and two others were released, Campbell said.
The boys were initially identified as 16, and one of the girls was said to be 15. Campbell said that was due to differing sets of ages listed by first responders.