15-year-old girl steals car, hits and kills jogger while trying to 'scare him': report

A 15-year-old Washington girl stole her godmother’s car and then hit a jogger while trying to “scare him,” police said. The runner has died and the teen now faces a murder charge.

On July 18, the King County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a call of a hit-and-run crash and found a 53-year-old man dead near the roadside.

According to authorities, Kasama Z. Smith, 15, was driving a 2004 Toyota Camry, which she stole from her godmother around 6 a.m.

A friend was riding with Smith and told police the car was approaching a man running on the side of the road when Smith said, “I’m going to scare him, I’m going to bump him,” the Kent Reporter stated.

Officials said the teenager then hit Gregory Moore and left the scene, along with the vehicle traveling with her, which was being driven by Smith’s friend.

The friend stated she heard a loud bang and saw something fly into the air, as she estimated they were going about 50 mph at the time, officials said.

Both vehicles continued to drive but eventually made a right turn and then stopped to look at the car, police said.

At home, Smith told her godmother that somebody hit the Camry with a bat, which is what caused the damage. She denied to her godmother that she was driving the vehicle, officials said.

The godmother then watched a news video showing the Toyota Camry cops were looking for, which is when she contacted Smith’s father.

According to cops, Smith admitted to her father that she hit the man with the car.

On Sept. 9, Smith’s father brought her to the police station to turn her in, as she was taken into custody without incident, authorities said.

Officials found video survivance showing the two cars traveling at a high rate of speed and running a stop sign at an intersection. A witness also said they saw a car speed through the intersection, police said..

The case will remain in juvenile court because of Smith’s age, as she was charged with second-degree murder, officials said.

"Because she was 15 at the time of the incident, she is not subject to automatic adult court jurisdiction. Any decision to transfer this matter to adult court would be up to a juvenile court judge," King County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement

Moore was an avid runner and was finishing up a 15-mile run on the morning he was hit and killed, officials said.

A GoFundMe page was created by his wife, which has now raised more than $40,000.

"Greg was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. He grew up in Issaquah and has been a Maple Valley resident for over 25 years," the page read.