DETROIT – Authorities announced murder charges at a news conference Monday afternoon in connection with the recent death of a 32-year-old man killed when a rock was thrown off an overpass on I-75 in Vienna Township.
LATEST UPDATE: 5 teenage boys charged with murder in deadly rock-throwing incident on I-75
Kenneth Andrew White, 32, of Mount Morris Township, was in a van Wednesday heading south on I-75 when the windshield was struck by a large rock in Vienna Township, police said. The rock went through the windshield and hit White, who was in the passenger seat. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Authorities said four other cars were struck with large rocks and were waiting for police to arrive when the van was hit. No other injuries were reported.
Officials said it's been an intense homicide investigation. They are asking for information from anyone who has heard anything about the incident.
Sources said that officials were directed to a person from a social media tip. On Friday, authorities confirmed several teens were in custody and being questioned.
All five teens were charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and six felony counts of malicious destruction of property.
Kyle Anger, 17; Mark Sekelsky, 16; Mikadyn Payne, 16; Trevor Gray, 15; and Alexander Miller, 15, are all from Clio, Michigan.
Family devastated; victim had 5-year-old son
White's family and the community are torn apart by White's death. Amy Cagle had to tell her 5-year-old son that his father was killed coming home from work.
"He was a good man and a good father," Cagle said.
Police said somebody threw the large rock off of the Dodge Road overpass north of Flint, hitting the van White was riding home in from his construction job.
"For some senseless act, for it to be just a rock, just to take him so soon," Cagle said.
Before White and his friend came through the area on I-75, police said 20 rocks had already been thrown. Four other cars had pulled over, and drivers called 911.
"I just don't understand what a person could be thinking to even want to do something like that," said Alicia Waskoski, White's sister. "To know they're putting lives in danger by just throwing rocks over the interpass."
Investigators have been asking for the public's help tracking down the people who threw the rocks.
"We have a family here," Genesee County Undersferiff Chris Swanson said. "This guy's got a fiance. He's got a child. He's on his way back from a hard day's work and out of the blue comes a rock and he loses his life. We want to find out who's responsible for this."
"He took away a child's father, and the love of my life," Cagle said. "His stupid act took away a life."
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