DETROIT – A 17-year-old has been charged in the beating of a man who was attacked while trying to help a boy struck by his pickup truck in Detroit.
Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy said Bruce Edward Wimbush Jr. is facing charges of assault with intent to murder and assault with intent to do great bodily harm for the attack on 54-year-old Steve Utash.
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He will be arraigned on Wednesday.
The Roseville man was driving his truck on Morang Street near Balfour Street on April 2 when he hit 10-year-old David Harris.
Police have said Harris stepped into traffic and Utash is not at fault.
When Utash got out of his truck at the scene, police said at least a half-dozen people attacked him. He remains in critical condition.
The boy was not seriously hurt.
"The facts of this case are unbelievably tragic. We have charged this defendant with a capital offense. I will not comment further because this investigation is continuing and widening. If anyone has information that is relevant to the case I urge them to call the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-2260," Worthy said.
A 16-year-old who was also taken into custody in connection with the beating has not yet been charged and is being held in the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center.
By law, Worthy's office is able to take up to five days to determine whether the respondent will be charged as an adult.
Utash's family has set up an online fund to collection donations for his medical care: GoFundMe.com.