Judge Sentences Driver to 17.5 Years in Fatal Hit-and-Run of 12-Year-Old Boy

LAS VEGAS, NV — A Las Vegas judge on Monday, April 6, 2026, ordered a prison sentence of seven to 17.5 years for the driver who struck and killed a 12-year-old boy walking to school before fleeing the scene.

Oh’Ryan Brooks, 27, appeared before District Judge Maria Gall following a February plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to one count of duty to stop at the scene of a crash involving death or personal injury. The charge stems from the October 2023 death of Christofer Suarez, a student at Smith Middle School.

The Collision and Aftermath

Authorities stated that Christofer was crossing East Owens Avenue near North 21st Street in an “implied crosswalk” when Brooks’ SUV struck him at a high rate of speed. The impact threw the boy against a fence, which authorities said impaled him.

Brooks did not stop to render aid. Police later located him, at which point he allegedly admitted to hitting the boy and told officers he had “inhaled some THC from his vape” earlier that morning. While Brooks was initially facing DUI and reckless driving charges, those were dropped as part of a plea agreement that required him to pay $6,953.31 in restitution to Christofer’s mother for funeral costs.

‘Not Even Near Enough’

During the sentencing hearing, Christofer’s mother, Martina Suarez, expressed her ongoing heartbreak and frustration with the legal process. She had previously criticized the plea deal, noting that the restitution amount did not even cover the full cost of her son’s funeral and that the dropped DUI charges felt like a lack of accountability.

In a sentencing memorandum, defense attorney Joseph Gersten had urged the judge to impose the minimum sentence of two to five years, stating that Brooks felt “terrible about the offense.” Judge Gall, however, opted for the more substantial seven-to-17.5-year term.

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal