Underage driver faces murder charges in fatal Fayetteville crash

A 15-year-old driver faces two counts of second-degree murder in a recent crash that killed two of his passengers, police said Wednesday.

The teen, whose name hasn't been released because of his age, also has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury, three counts of felony hit-and-run, one misdemeanor hit-and-run count, speeding, no operator's license and failure to stop for a red light. All charges are through juvenile court petitions, but it's unclear whether prosecutors will try to move the case to adult court.

Police said the teen was behind the wheel of a 2017 Kia on April 2 when it made a traffic violation. A Cumberland County deputy tried to pull the car over, but the teen sped off.

The Kia collided with a 2016 Hyundai at the intersection of West Russell Street and South Eastern Boulevard, and Asia Boka, 18, and Moses Jackson, 17, were thrown from the Kia and killed.

Jackson, Boka, the driver and two other passengers were all students at Pine Forest High School. Only one was wearing a seat belt.

Micshella McCurtain, Jackson's mother, said she was told by one of the survivors that all four passengers begged the 15-year-old to stop during the chase, but he just laughed it off.

The 15-year-old remains in Cumberland County's juvenile detention center.