Illegal immigrant accused of fatal felony hit-and-run in North Carolina

FIRST ON FOX: An illegal immigrant is accused of killing a 62-year-old man in North Carolina in a fatal hit-and-run, Fox News Digital has learned.

According to the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer has been lodged against 25-year-old Ernesto Lopez-Gomez.

A source with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that Lopez is a Mexican national who entered the U.S. illegally on an unknown date.

Lopez has been charged with felony hit and run resulting in death. He is being held under a $2,000,000 secured bond for the alleged crime.

Ernesto Lopez-Gomez, a Mexican national, is charged with felony hit-and-run resulting in death and held on a $2M bond. (Pitt County Detention Center)

In an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said that the suspect “should have NEVER been in our country and able to kill Christopher Babcock.”

“The Biden Administration’s catch and release policies let this criminal into our community, and now a widow is mourning the loss of her husband. This is the second hit-in-run by an illegal alien just this week. These preventable tragedies are the result of the previous administration’s open border policies.”

According to the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, on March 11 around 7:45 p.m., Christopher Babcock, 62, was riding a motorcycle toward Greenville, North Carolina when a vehicle turned left in front of him, causing a collision.

The driver, later identified as Lopez, fled the scene following the crash. Babcock later died from his injuries.

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Christopher Babcock, 62, died after a vehicle driven by Ernesto Lopez-Gomez allegedly turned left in front of his motorcycle on March 11. (GoFundMe)

The collision occurred on U.S. 13 at U.S. 264 Alternate near Moye Turnage Road, southeast of Farmville, according to police.

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Christopher Babcock, 62, was riding his motorcycle near Greenville, NC when a vehicle turned left in front of him, police say. (GoFundMe)

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In his obituary, Babcock was remembered for living a life “defined by kindness, humor, and generosity.”

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“He never hesitated to help someone in need and had a contagious laugh that could brighten any room,” the obituary said. “Chris had a sarcastic sense of humor and a warm heart, and he deeply loved his family and his dogs.”

Babcock leaves behind his wife, two stepchildren, and a sister, according to his obituary.

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