Wylie police upgraded the charge against 19-year-old Rene Padilla to murder Saturday after 20-year-old Maximiliano Maldonado died from injuries police say Padilla caused by intentionally striking him with a vehicle.
Someone flagged down a Wylie police officer at approximately 3:38 p.m. on July 5 in the 800 block of Woodbridge Parkway to report vehicles possibly racing behind a parking lot.
The officer then found a vehicle-pedestrian collision in the parking lot at 207 Security Court. Emergency responders treated Maldonado for a severe head injury and took him to a regional hospital in critical condition, according to the Wylie Police Department.
Police allege intentional strike
Investigators said Maldonado and Rene Padilla, 19, argued before Maldonado got out of his vehicle. Police allege Padilla then intentionally struck Maldonado with the vehicle he was driving.
Officers arrested Padilla and initially charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Maldonado died on July 11, and Wylie police upgraded Padilla’s charge to murder.
Police have not announced a motive or released additional details about the argument. The investigation remains ongoing.
Padilla faces an accusation, not a conviction. The law presumes him innocent unless a court finds him guilty.
Provided by Dallas Express
