Hipolito Zamora Hernandez
CLAYTON, N.C. -- A man charged with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal hit-and-run was charged with drunken driving a number of times in recent years, authorities say.
The highway patrol says 30-year-old Hipolito Zamora Hernandez hit 7-year-old Marcus Lassiter on Sunday when Lassiter and a friend were walking along a road in Johnston County. Lassiter died on Tuesday and Hernandez’s driving while impaired charges were upgraded.
Authorities say Hernandez was speeding and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.21. The legal limit is 0.08.
Hernandez was also charged in August 2004 with level four DWI but that charge got dismissed. In February 2005, he was charged with DWI again, but the charge was also dismissed.
There's a third pending DWI charge from March 2007, where Hernandez did not show up for court.
Once he is released, Hernandez will be turned over to immigration officials.
Lassiter’s funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Johnston Piney Grove Church in Clayton.