Drunk driver who allegedly smirked as he repeatedly ran over 6-year-boy detained by devastated grandfather

52-year-old Pedro Alberto Hernandez was arrested after allegedly running down and killing a 6-year-old boy in southwest Houston on Saturday. Hernandez has been charged with felony murder and driving under the influence. Authorities indicated that this is Hernandez's fourth DUI arrest since 2015 and that he was still serving probation for a 2020 DUI conviction.

Hernandez admitted to police that he had consumed four 16-ounce beers before driving his Chevrolet Tahoe to meet someone who owed him money.

At 5:55 p.m., Hernandez allegedly ran over the child, not once but thrice, stopping with his wheel atop the child's face as the victim's grandfather screamed out in terror: "My grandson, my grandson."

The victim's grandfather said that as he yelled for Hernandez to stop, the suspect smirked and attempted to flee the scene.

The grandfather managed to yank the suspect out of the car and hold him against the hood of the vehicle. With the help of other witnesses, he detained Hernandez until police arrived.

The Houston Police Department stated that Hernandez was found to be intoxicated at the time of his arrest.

The HPD indicated that the child and his family had been walking to a store near Leawood Boulevard and Bissonnet. The boy had run ahead of his family in the shopping center parking lot when the suspect ran him down. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sean Teare, with Harris County's Vehicular Crimes Division, noted that Hernandez is a repeat offender. "This was his fourth, at least, DWI arrest." He added that the victim's family "is going to have to live with the actions of this defendant for the rest of their lives."

Hernandez was previously convicted of drunk driving in Harris County in 2015, in Freestone County in 2016, and in Fort Bend County in 2020. KHOU11 reported that the district attorney's office has accepted a felony murder charge in this case.

Hernandez's court date was postponed until Tuesday to ensure he had access to a Spanish-speaking attorney.

His bail has been set at $600,000. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

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