Raul Elizondo, 39, of Lubbock was charged Wednesday with manslaughter for the death of Christopher Garcia, 29.
Elizondo was already in jail for failure to stop and render aid. The charge filed on Wednesday changed the case from a third degree felony to a second degree felony.
If convicted on the new charge, Elizondo would face a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison.
Police said on the afternoon of January 14, officers were called to a fight in 5700 block of Vicksburg Avenue.
Police said, “Two juveniles were fighting in the middle of the street. Multiple juveniles and adults were also in the area due to the fight.”
“As the large group of people were in the street, a white SUV driving on Vicksburg struck one of the involved parties,” police said. “The suspect then continued driving and left the scene.”
In the arrest warrant, a police report said one eyewitness “described the suspect vehicle to be driving 40 to 50 miles per hour just prior to striking the victim.”
Garcia was taken by EMS to University Medical Center where he later died. Police located Elizondo in the early morning hours of January 15.
Elizondo remained in the Lubbock County Detention Center Wednesday on a $25,000 bond. His bond was not yet updated to reflect the new criminal charge.
