LAPD Officer Accused of DUI Hit-and-Run, Leaving Teen to Die

DUI Hit-and-Run Allegations

• 🚨 An LAPD officer, Carlos Gonzalo Coronel, 40, is accused of striking and killing 19-year-old Imanol Salvador Gonzalez while driving drunk.
• 🚗 Prosecutors allege Coronel fled the scene of the February 1st collision in Tustin, California, and drove to his girlfriend's house instead of calling for help.
• 💔 The victim's body was discovered by passersby minutes after the crash.

Suspect's Actions and Investigation

• 📱 Coronel allegedly instructed his girlfriend to avoid the road where the crash occurred and later searched online to see if the incident had been reported.
• 🕵️ Investigators identified the suspect vehicle as a black 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, registered to Coronel.
• ⚖️ He faces multiple felony charges, including DUI causing great bodily injury and hit and run with permanent injury or death.

Pattern of Behavior and Accountability

• ⚠️ This incident is highlighted as part of a pattern, as Coronel had a prior misdemeanor DUI and hit-and-run charge in 2011, for which he violated probation.
• 🗣️ Dr. Rashad Richey and Tehran Von Ghasri discuss the alleged culture of policing that may protect officers and the need for higher accountability.
• 💰 A GoFundMe has been set up by friends of the family to help with funeral expenses.

Potential Penalties and Family's Plea

• ⛓️ If convicted, Coronel could face up to nearly seven years in prison, which is considered by some to be too light a sentence.
• 🙏 The victim's family is devastated and seeking justice, emphasizing that an officer sworn to protect should not be responsible for taking a life.