Teen On Bike Killed During Police Chase

Tags:: Chase Chris Cooper Fatal Independence Kmbc Missouri Police

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Added: 09-Nov-07

A 17-year-old boy on a bicycle was hit and killed during a police pursuit Thursday night.

The pursuit started at 39th Street and Lee's Summit Road when police spotted two speeding cars that seemed to be chasing each other.

One of the cars disappeared and the other turned onto Noland Road, weaving through traffic. Authorities said the driver struck the boy at Noland Road and Osage Avenue when the boy was crossing the street on his bike.

The suspects kept going.

"They weren't stopping for anybody," an officer said.

The driver and passenger were found in a wooded area near Noland Road and taken into custody. Prosecutors said the driver, 24-year-old Wilfredo J. Pujols Jr., was charged with second-degree felony murder, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while intoxicated.

Pujols is a cousin of St. Louis Cardinals baseball player Albert Pujols.

The teen killed was identified as Christopher E. Cooper, a junior at Truman High School.

Friends gathered Friday at Santa Fe Park in Independence to honor Cooper, who liked to skateboard there.