Saturday, March 15, 2014

Owens Charged With Capital Murder For Killing Two Victims With Vehicle During The SXSW Music Festival

Rashad Charjuan Owens

Owens facing at least 23 counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle for driving through a crowed street festival.

By H. Nelson Goodson
March 15, 2013

Austin, Texas - On Friday, Rashad Charjuan Owens, 21, of Killeen was charged with one count of Capital Murder for last Thursday death of Steven Craemeher, 35, and Jamie Ranae West, 27, at the South and South West Music Festival. On early Thursday around 12:30 a.m., Owens a suspected DWI driver failed to stop after police attempted to pull him near a gas station. He managed to maneuver through parked vehicles at a gas station and fled the wrong way in a one-way street. Owens then crashed through a barricade into a street crowd in front of the Mohawk, a local nightclub at 10th Street and Red River Street during the South and Southwest Music Concert. At least two people died, Craemehr who was riding a bicycle and West who was driving a moped and 23 other victims suffered injuries. They were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, according to Austin's Police Chief Art Acevedo. Three victims remained in critical condition.
Owens allegedly accelerated in a high speed going the wrong way in a one-way street and drove through a crowd on Red River Street injuring at least 23 people. He then crashed into a cab and a van. Both Craemehr and West died at the scene. 
Owens after crashing stopped and attempted to flee, but was tased by a police officer and taken into custody. He is facing 23 counts of aggravated assault by a vehicle, Chief Acevedo stated.
The South and Southwest Musical Festival is a popular five day event that attracts more than 30,000 festivalgoers. 

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