Illahje Davis found competent, proceedings resume in hit-and-run case

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A judge on Friday, January 24th found 15-year-old Illahje Davis competent to stand trial. Davis is accused of driving a stolen car and striking and killing bicyclist Ronald Forbes (age 60) near 65th and Hampton in August 2012. A judge had ordered a competency exam for Davis in December -- and the doctor's report was delivered on Friday.

Because Davis has been found competent, proceedings in this case will continue -- and a status hearing in the case is scheduled for February 3rd.

Davis faces charges including first degree reckless homicide, hit-and-run resulting in death and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. She and her friends allegedly stole a car and later struck and killed Forbes, who was riding his bicycle to work.

The complaint indicates Davis and another person had stolen the car from a home on N. 39th St. and was seen driving the vehicle at a high rate of speed. According to the passenger in the car who talked to police, she warned Davis to watch out for the bicyclist. But the complaint says Davis seemed to be driving right toward the victim intentionally.

The complaint says after striking Forbes, Davis “was laughing about striking the victim stating something like, ‘He shouldn’t have been in the street.’”

After some investigation, officers tracked down the accused at a home on N. 39th St. In the complaint, Davis stated, “I was going fast, about 80 mph and the music was loud.” She told officers she went through a red light at 68th and Hampton, and then through a second light. Moments later, she apparently “saw a lot of traffic then heard a ‘bump or boom’ noise and turned around.”

Immediately after the crash, the complaint indicates Davis turned the corner, parked the car and jumped into another vehicle that had pulled up behind her. She asked the boys in that vehicle to take her home. On the way home, that vehicle ran out of gas and the complaint says “she tried to steal another van to get home.”