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Teen Accused of Murder After Fatal Crash During Police Chase
22 Jan
Summary
- A 17-year-old is charged with murder after a fatal crash.
- The fatal collision occurred while fleeing a state trooper.
- The victim, Serenity Upchurch, was also 17 years old.
A 17-year-old boy, Malik Javan Jagana, has been charged with second-degree murder and vehicular homicide after a fatal crash in Tacoma. The incident occurred on Sunday when Jagana allegedly attempted to elude a state trooper. The pursuit ended when the vehicle he was driving became airborne, crashed, and struck a power pole.
The front-seat passenger, 17-year-old Serenity Rose Upchurch, was pronounced dead at the scene. Jagana and another passenger sustained injuries. Prosecutors allege Jagana was impaired and driving a stolen vehicle while possessing a significant amount of cannabis.
During his arraignment, Jagana entered a plea of not guilty. He is currently held at Remann Hall on a $1 million bail. Court documents reveal Jagana has a prior felony conviction and his driver's license was suspended or revoked.
