Guilty Plea In Fatal St. Paul Hit-And-Run
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a fatal St. Paul hit-and-run that killed a 78-year-old man, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office announced Friday.
Gregory John Larsin pled guilty to one count of criminal vehicular homicide. His sentencing is set for Nov. 3, 2011 in Ramsey County District Court.
"The defendant's irresponsible actions resulted in the death of a blameless and beloved victim. The defendant faces a significant prison sentence," said County Attorney John Choi.
According to the criminal complaint, witnesses reported that two cars were stopped at the intersection to let Tutu cross the street. They said a vehicle, allegedly driven by Larsin, "didn't want to wait" and passed the other cars on the left, hitting Tetu and then fleeing north on Earl St.
Other witnesses, who didn't see the crash, reported seeing the same car nearby. It had major windshield damage and was passing cars on the left side of the road, in oncoming traffic lanes.
Later that day, police found the vehicle parked a few blocks away from the scene of the incident. They connected it back to a woman who said she had sold the car to Larsin earlier that day.
She said Larsin was a good friend of her boyfriend and that he called asking her to report the car stolen.
While she was on the phone with police, Larsin called her again and she put the call on speaker phone. Police could hear a man's voice telling her, "You have to report the car stolen."
The woman's boyfriend spoke with Larsin and advised him to turn himself in, which he did at St. Paul Police headquarters.
