ALTON, Ill. — A man is facing murder charges after police said he drove into two women on a parking lot in Alton, Illinois, killing one and injuring another.
Police said the incident happened on a parking lot on the 400 block of Belle Street in Alton early Sunday. They said Katie Bunt, 21, and a 25-year-old woman were standing in the lot when a car drove into them. Bunt died from her injuries and 25-year-old was taken to the hospital.
Prosecuting Attorney Tom Gibbons said the suspect, 21-year-old Caleb A. Lenhardt hit the women then fled the scene in the car. He jumped out of the car and ran off on foot before being found by a police K-9 unit about an hour after the incident. Sunday was his 21st birthday.
He was charged Monday with two counts of first-degree murder, failure to report a traffic crash involving an injury or death and aggravated battery.
One of the murder counts accused him of intending to kill her in the crash and the other said he meant to hit her but did not know it would kill her. The prosecuting attorney said the murder charges are known as alternative charges, meaning they would be merged into one charge if he is found guilty.
Gibbons said Lenhardt had a history of domestic violence and "disturbing" behavior. Investigators said he was involved in an ongoing dispute throughout the night.
Members of Bunt's family have started a GoFundMe page.
