The Jefferson City man previously charged with first-degree assault in the shooting of 18-year-old Orentheus Pitts was instead charged Monday with second-degree murder after Pitts’ subsequent death.

An 18-year-old from Jefferson City and a 17-year-old from Holts Summit also face new or modified felony charges of stealing in relation to the alleged robbery during a drug deal last week that led to the shooting.

Pitts was a former Jefferson City Jays football player who was a backup running back on the team last year. Hundreds of people — friends, family, coaches, members of the Jays boosters and school staff — attended a prayer service Thursday for him.

Pitts was in critical condition after the shooting. A family spokesman — Pastor Jon Nelson, of Soma Community Church — said at the prayer service that Pitts had lost a lot of blood, which had led to severe damage to his brain.

Nelson told the News Tribune that Pitts succumbed to his injuries Monday morning.

Landon Latall, 21, of Jefferson City, was charged Monday with second-degree murder in Pitts’ death.

According to the Jefferson City Police Department, Latall drove to the Walgreens on West Truman Boulevard on June 1 as part of a pre-arranged meeting to sell Pitts marijuana.

Jamari Todd, 17, of Jefferson City, allegedly drove Pitts and two others — Darrell Jones, 17, of Holts Summit, and Byron Brown, 18, of Jefferson City — to the Walgreens parking lot to purchase a small amount of marijuana.

As Latall pulled into the parking lot, the group allegedly discussed robbing him of the marijuana. Pitts and Jones then allegedly exited the vehicle and approached Latall’s vehicle, and Pitts was then shot at Latall’s driver-side door.

Jones corroborated that account of events from Todd, according to police.

Pitts took the marijuana without paying for it, according to police.

“There was no physical altercation or force used against Latall when the narcotics he possessed were taken from him,” according to a police probable cause statement. The statement adds that photographs taken of Latall did not show any signs of injury or being in an altercation that would make him fearful of his life to justify the use of deadly force.

Latall shot Pitts at least two times, according to police.

Todd told police he heard five shots. Todd added he eventually threw the stolen marijuana into the woods and Pitts’ money down a stormwater drain. A JCPD detective recovered both — a bag of approximately eight grams of marijuana, and $40.

Latall turned himself in to police after leaving the scene and told officers he had used the firearm in his vehicle in self-defense, according to police.

Second-degree murder is a class A felony. The charging document filed with the Cole County Circuit Court notes, if convicted, an individual sentenced for the offense would not be eligible for parole until 85 percent of the sentence is served. Missouri law adds that the punishment for second-degree murder shall be added to that for the commission of any related felony.

Latall also has been charged with the class E felony of delivery of a controlled substance and the felony of armed criminal action; those charges did not change Monday. He has been denied bond.

Todd has been charged with stealing and tampering with physical evidence, and no changes were made Monday. He posted $5,000 bond Thursday.

Jones had been charged with the class D felony of stealing, according to online court records, but that charge was amended Monday to a class E felony charge of stealing. He posted $5,000 bond Thursday.

Brown was also charged Monday with the class E felony of stealing. His bond was set at $5,000.

Jones and Todd were at the prayer service for Pitts last week, where a message of forgiveness by Pitts’ mother was relayed to them.

The Southwest Boulevard branch of Jefferson Bank confirmed Monday that contributions are being accepted there — 700 Southwest Blvd., Jefferson City, 65109 — to the Orentheus Pitts Memorial Fund.

People making a contribution in-person or by mail are asked to make sure their contribution is payable to the memorial fund.

Nelson added people can make a contribution at any Jefferson Bank or Central Bank location.

They may not want it, but Nebraska football is part of a larger legal drama that will play out in the coming months.

According to ESPN.com, “[s]even women, including three female athletes, are suing the NCAA, alleging the organization failed to protect them from alleged sexual assaults by male college athletes despite having an obligation to do so.” The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan Wednesday.

From the report:

The lawsuit accuses the NCAA of negligence, fraud and breach of contract. It argues that the NCAA, as a regulatory body for college athletics, had a duty to the women “to supervise, regulate, monitor and provide reasonable and appropriate rules to minimize the risk of injury or danger to student-athletes and by student-athletes.”

The NCAA “knew or should have known that their actions or inaction in light of the rate and extent of sexual assaults reported and made known to [the NCAA] by male student-athletes … would cause harm to female student-athletes and non-student-athletes at NCAA member institution campuses in both the short- and long-term,” the lawsuit states.

A former Nebraska volleyball player, Capri Davis, is one of the seven plaintiffs in the suit.  It’s alleged that Davis and another unnamed female student-athlete were groped without consent by two members of the Nebraska football team in the spring of 2019.  While not specifically named in the suit, ESPN.com identified the two Nebraska football players as Katerian LeGrone and Andre Hunt.  The unidentified female has also claimed that she was raped by LeGrone and a different teammate in the fall of 2018.

In late August of last year, Nebraska confirmed that two football players, Hunt, a wide receiver, and LeGrone, a tight end, had been indefinitely suspended by the program for unspecified reasons.  A little over three months later, it was reported that both of the players have been “found to have violated the school’s sexual misconduct policies and face a 2½-year suspension from the university.”

The extended suspension stemmed from an alleged rape of an NU student on Aug. 25 and, even as a police investigation remained open, no criminal charges had been filed.  There was a development on the legal front in mid-December, though, as LeGrone and Hunt were arrested on one count of suspicion of first-degree sexual assault and one count of suspicion of aiding and abetting first-degree sexual assault, respectively, even as neither had been formally charged at the time.

Yet another disturbing development surfaced around that same time as local media reported that an additional six sexual assault reports have been filed with the Lincoln Police Department that “are connected to either one or both of the former Husker players accused of sexual misconduct.” Four of the new reports involved non-consensual sexual penetration, three of which were designated as rape, while two included allegations of inappropriate touching of private parts.

In early December, Hunt and LeGrone entered the NCAA transfer database.

The twin portal entries also play a role in the suit.  Again, from ESPN.com‘s report:

… One of the complaints in the lawsuit filed Wednesday pertains to how the NCAA allows athletes who have been “accused or convicted of sexual assault or sexual violence to evade responsibility by transferring to other schools.”

The NCAA “routinely issue[s] harsh punishments against student-athletes who accept payments in exchange for use of their likenesses, or who accept free meals, but they have no specific penalty for student-athletes who commit sexual assault,” the lawsuit states.

“[University of Nebraska-Lincoln] has fostered a culture in which female victims are discouraged from reporting sexual assaults, sexual harassment, stalking, and other forms of general discrimination when those acts are perpetrated by male student-athletes in order to protect UNL, the male athletics program, male student-athletes, and the NCAA, at the expense of female victims,” the lawsuit further stated, according to the Lincoln Journal-Star.

Twice, Davis, who has since transferred to Texas, and the unidentified female student-athlete went to the school’s Title IX office regarding the groping incident.  Neither time, the suit states, was the incident investigated as required by law.  After learning that Hunt and LeGrone were accused of raping a student, the pair went to the Title IX Office a third time.  This time, an investigation was launched.  That investigation ultimately led to the two Nebraska football players being expelled from the university.

Cantorna said the statement was issued to address questions arising from a civil suit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg by former Penn State football player Isaiah Humphries. He claimed that he was the victim of hazing and harassment, some of it sexually suggestive, by his teammates in 2018, his only year at the university.

Charges have been filed against two teenagers who recorded videos of themselves holding down and repeatedly kicking an immobile deer, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said Friday.Alexander Brock Smith, 18, and a 17-year-old boy, both of Brookville, Jefferson County, are both charged with felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and tampering with or fabricating evidence, the Game Commission said. Smith is also charged with misdemeanor corruption of minors.Smith was arraigned Friday and released on $50,000 unsecured bail. The 17-year-old will be charged in juvenile court and is not being identified because of his age.Click the video player above to see images from the controversial deer video.”Each defendant was interviewed as part of the investigation and confirmed they were hunting together Nov. 30 in an enclosed tree stand on property Smith’s family owns in Beaver Township, Jefferson County,” the Game Commission said in a written statement. “The juvenile shot and wounded a buck, then missed with a follow-up shot. The deer was immobilized, video was taken, then shared through the messaging app Snapchat. One recipient of the video saved it to his phone and contacted the Game Commission, and his phone, as well as the defendants’ phones, were seized for forensic analysis.”A video that was shared to the Game Commission’s Facebook page and prompted the investigation has been shared thousands of times.During the investigation, one of the people in the video was identified as Smith, the stepson of Brookville’s police chief.Last month, Brookville solicitor James Dennison spoke to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on behalf of Police Chief Vince Markle, saying: “He was extremely upset, for a few reasons. For one, that it happened and that kids could do this to an animal. Second, it was his stepson who was involved. Third, probably his biggest concern was the black eye it would give to the borough of Brookville and the police department.”Tim Layton, president of the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners, acknowledged public frustration over the length of the investigation, but he said it took time to collect the evidence and to determine that the incident did happen in the state.”It’s easy to understand why people were outraged by the incident,” Layton said in a written statement. “But the worst-case scenario would have been rushing the investigation and heading into court with a case that wasn’t as strong as it could have been.””Obviously, this case has generated a large amount of public outcry,” Jefferson County District Attorney Jeff Burkett said. “People have assumed that officers have been dragging their feet when, actually, the opposite is true. They have put a lot of hard work in on this case in order to present the case for prosecution. I commend the Pennsylvania Game Commission for their efforts in this matter.”

ELIZABETH, N.J. — A former NFL linebacker’s career was cut short after authorities in New Jersey fabricated evidence linking him to a gun used in a shooting, the player alleged in a lawsuit filed this week.

The Elizabeth police department and Union County prosecutor’s office “willfully ignored and were deliberately indifferent to overwhelming evidence” that Khaseem Greene hadn’t provided the weapon used in a shooting outside a nightclub in Elizabeth in December 2016, Greene says in the suit.

The Kansas City Chiefs released Greene in May of last year, the day charges against him were reported.

Two months later, a gun charge against Greene was dropped after an audio recording surfaced of the accused shooter telling detectives he lied about Greene’s involvement in the shooting.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses the police and prosecutor’s office of “simultaneously manufacturing and fabricating false evidence in order to charge Plaintiff with a crime he did not commit.”

A spokesman for the county prosecutor’s office declined comment Thursday. A message left at the Elizabeth police department wasn’t immediately returned.

The 29-year-old Greene is an Elizabeth native who was a Big East defensive player of the year while at Rutgers. He appeared in a total of 25 games for the Chicago Bears in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, starting six games at linebacker.

The lawsuit charges numerous counts including civil rights violations, false arrest and imprisonment, malicious prosecution, negligence and defamation. It seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages, including for past and future economic loss.

It also seeks the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee the Elizabeth police department.

According to the lawsuit, the man charged with the shooting, a career criminal with more than 20 prior arrests and six felony convictions, admitted he lied about getting the gun from Greene during an interview with police after his arrest in late December 2016.

Nevertheless, authorities went ahead and charged Greene, citing surveillance video that allegedly showed Greene handing the gun to the man. No such video existed, the lawsuit alleges.

Greene last August said the legal trouble has been “probably the toughest time of my life” and has been “very hard emotionally and mentally.”

“People started looking at me differently and accusing me of being this thug, this monster, and all of it was false,” he said by phone.

The suit names the Elizabeth Police Department and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office as well as individuals in both offices.

DOVER — Milford police arrested a Cape Henlopen player and issued arrest warrants for two individuals following the fight that stopped Thursday night’s high school basketball game between Cape and Smyrna.

Late Friday afternoon, Milford Police announced the arrest of Cape basketball player Randy Rickards, 18, of Milton.

He was charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault.

Authorities said Mr. Rickards immediately turned himself in to law enforcement when he learned of an arrest warrant.

He was presented at Justice of the Peace Court 2 in Rehoboth Beach, where a $1,000 unsecured bail was set.

Mr. Rickards was scheduled to appear at the Kent County Common Pleas at a later date, police said.

Two other arrest warrants were filed and police said further information would be released when available.

Milford Sgt. Robert Masten said Cape Henlopen and Smyrna high schools were both assisting with the investigation.

Delaware State Police and Harrington Police officers also responded to the Thursday night fight and helped Milford officers assigned to the game and other officers who responded from the patrol division.

The contest, which was played at Milford High, was to determine the champion of the Henlopen Conference Northern Division after the Vikings and Eagles tied for the title.

Friday night’s Henlopen Conference championship game, between Smyrna and Woodbridge, was played as scheduled at Dover High.

As is its custom, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association allowed the Milford police and school adminstrations from both Cape Henlopen and Smyrna to investigate the incident and hand out any punishments.

“The DIAA and its membership are working on additional safeguards to help prevent future incidents,” DIAA executive director Tommie Neubauer said in a statement Friday afternoon.

Officials were able to look at a number of videos that were taken of the brawl.

Seaford High Athletic Director Jerry Kobasa, a Henlopen Conference representative, said only one Cape Henlopen player will be disciplined.

“We studied video last night, gave Tommie (Neubauer) our results and the officials said the same thing,” said Mr. Kobasa. “Milford was outstanding with providing video which showed no other players were involved. Milford police did an outstanding job of restoring order.”

He said students from various schools were on tape involved but only one of them was a player.

Cape Henlopen superintendent Bob Fulton also issued a statement on the matter Friday afternoon prior to the Milford police announcing their arrest and warrants.

“We are extremely concerned and disappointed in the environment at last night’s basketball game as well as the ensuing altercation,” he said. “We are committed to addressing negative actions involving any of our students/athletes.

‘We are also committed to working with others to determine what can be done differently in the future so that last night’s events are not repeated. We are currently investigating all aspects of the incident to determine any disciplinary consequences and/or outcomes.”

The incident began with 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter and Smyrna leading 61-34 in the crowded gym.

While Cape Henlopen was returning to its bench after a huddle during a timeout, punches were exchanged between fans in the front row and players.

It quickly spilled onto the court as coaches and administrators tried to restrain the parties involved. Multiple people were thrown to the floor and Milford police officers were seen putting handcuffs on at least one spectator.

Cape Henlopen players were ushered into the locker room as police officers worked to clear the floor. After things settled down, blood was visible on the court and on the wall near the entrance to Cape Henlopen’s locker room.

Prior to the brawl, Henlopen Conference officials and police officers on separate occasions warned the row of spectators seated directly behind the Cape Henlopen bench during the break in between the third and fourth quarters.

Smyrna’s bench was at the other end of the gym and none of its team personel were believed to be directly involved in the fight.

The incident did not have any impact on either team’s standing in the upcoming DIAA state tournament. Cape Henlopen was the No. 1 seed by the tourney’s point system while Smyrna — the defending state champion — was No. 3.

Staff writers Tim Mastro and Craig Anderson contributed to this story.

Reach sports editor Andy Walter at walter@newszap.com

Charges have been filed against undocumented immigrant who allegedly drove drunk and killed two men in a car crash, including Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson.

The incident drew attention from President Donald Trump and others, who said the case illustrated the need to crack down on illegal immigration, but Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry slammed that move.

“We will vigorously prosecute this matter, just like any comparable crime, not because of the immigration status of an accused, but because two innocent men lost their lives in this horrible incident.”

“We are disheartened that ghoulish and inappropriate public commentary has politicized this tragedy,” Curry said, adding, “Much of such commentary including tweets by the President, fails to acknowledge that both Edwin Jackson and Jeffrey Monroe lost their lives on Sunday. We will simply seek justice on behalf of the families of those two victims.”

Manuel Orrego-Savala, of Guatemala, has been charged with two counts of causing death when operating a motor vehicle and two counts of failure to remain at the scene of an accident.

A judge today entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, the prosecutor’s office told ABC News. Defense attorney Jorge Torres said today that his client is distraught and confused and that his immigration status isn’t related to the car accident, according to The Associated Press. Torres did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

The crash took place Sunday after Jackson, who was a passenger in a car, became ill, and the man driving him, Jeffrey Monroe, pulled over, the Indiana State Police said. The men were standing outside the car on the side of I-70 in Marion County when a truck drove onto the emergency shoulder, hitting them both, police said.

Orrego-Savala, 37, fled on foot and was later apprehended, according to cops.

Police said that Orrego-Savala, who was using the alias Alex Cabrera Gonsales, was believed to be intoxicated and driving without a license at the time of the collision. A breath test found his blood alcohol content to be 0.239 percent, over the limit of .08 percent, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The crash threw one of the victims into the center lane of the highway, where that victim was also hit by a responding state police trooper, police said. Both Jackson, 26, and Monroe, 54, died at the scene, police said.

Besides the two deportations, Orrego-Savala was convicted of driving under the influence in California in 2005 and has had many other misdemeanor arrests and convictions in California and Indiana, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson Nicole Alberico.

President Trump blasted Orrego-Savala on Twitter Tuesday, writing that it’s “so disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border, and with illegal immigration, FAST!”

Several Indiana politicians also linked the crash to immigration.

Colts General Manager Chris Ballard told reporters this morning that his thoughts were “with Edwin and Jeffrey and their families.”

To the families, he said, “We’re going to be with you every step of the way as an organization.”

“What Edwin stood for, the type of kid he was, the type of man he is, how he wanted to be great at football, how he wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives, and that’s important.

“It’s important that we remember [Jackson] for the things he stood for,” Ballard said. “What Edwin stood for, the type of kid he was, the type of man he is, how he wanted to be great at football, how he wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives … and it’s a shame his life was cut short.”

ABC News’ Dom Proto contributed to this report.

Charges have been filed against undocumented immigrant who allegedly drove drunk and killed two men in a car crash, including Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson.

The incident drew attention from President Donald Trump and others, who said the case illustrated the need to crack down on illegal immigration, but Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry slammed that move.

“We will vigorously prosecute this matter, just like any comparable crime, not because of the immigration status of an accused, but because two innocent men lost their lives in this horrible incident.”

“We are disheartened that ghoulish and inappropriate public commentary has politicized this tragedy,” Curry said, adding, “Much of such commentary including tweets by the President, fails to acknowledge that both Edwin Jackson and Jeffrey Monroe lost their lives on Sunday. We will simply seek justice on behalf of the families of those two victims.”

Manuel Orrego-Savala, of Guatemala, has been charged with two counts of causing death when operating a motor vehicle and two counts of failure to remain at the scene of an accident.

A judge today entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, the prosecutor’s office told ABC News. Defense attorney Jorge Torres said today that his client is distraught and confused and that his immigration status isn’t related to the car accident, according to The Associated Press. Torres did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

The crash took place Sunday after Jackson, who was a passenger in a car, became ill, and the man driving him, Jeffrey Monroe, pulled over, the Indiana State Police said. The men were standing outside the car on the side of I-70 in Marion County when a truck drove onto the emergency shoulder, hitting them both, police said.

Orrego-Savala, 37, fled on foot and was later apprehended, according to cops.

Police said that Orrego-Savala, who was using the alias Alex Cabrera Gonsales, was believed to be intoxicated and driving without a license at the time of the collision. A breath test found his blood alcohol content to be 0.239 percent, over the limit of .08 percent, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The crash threw one of the victims into the center lane of the highway, where that victim was also hit by a responding state police trooper, police said. Both Jackson, 26, and Monroe, 54, died at the scene, police said.

Besides the two deportations, Orrego-Savala was convicted of driving under the influence in California in 2005 and has had many other misdemeanor arrests and convictions in California and Indiana, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson Nicole Alberico.

President Trump blasted Orrego-Savala on Twitter Tuesday, writing that it’s “so disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border, and with illegal immigration, FAST!”

Several Indiana politicians also linked the crash to immigration.

Colts General Manager Chris Ballard told reporters this morning that his thoughts were “with Edwin and Jeffrey and their families.”

To the families, he said, “We’re going to be with you every step of the way as an organization.”

“What Edwin stood for, the type of kid he was, the type of man he is, how he wanted to be great at football, how he wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives, and that’s important.

“It’s important that we remember [Jackson] for the things he stood for,” Ballard said. “What Edwin stood for, the type of kid he was, the type of man he is, how he wanted to be great at football, how he wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives … and it’s a shame his life was cut short.”

ABC News’ Dom Proto contributed to this report.

Charges have been filed against undocumented immigrant who allegedly drove drunk and killed two men in a car crash, including Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson.

The incident drew attention from President Donald Trump and others, who said the case illustrated the need to crack down on illegal immigration, but Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry slammed that move.

“We will vigorously prosecute this matter, just like any comparable crime, not because of the immigration status of an accused, but because two innocent men lost their lives in this horrible incident.”

“We are disheartened that ghoulish and inappropriate public commentary has politicized this tragedy,” Curry said, adding, “Much of such commentary including tweets by the President, fails to acknowledge that both Edwin Jackson and Jeffrey Monroe lost their lives on Sunday. We will simply seek justice on behalf of the families of those two victims.”

Manuel Orrego-Savala, of Guatemala, has been charged with two counts of causing death when operating a motor vehicle and two counts of failure to remain at the scene of an accident.

A judge today entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, the prosecutor’s office told ABC News. Defense attorney Jorge Torres said today that his client is distraught and confused and that his immigration status isn’t related to the car accident, according to The Associated Press. Torres did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

The crash took place Sunday after Jackson, who was a passenger in a car, became ill, and the man driving him, Jeffrey Monroe, pulled over, the Indiana State Police said. The men were standing outside the car on the side of I-70 in Marion County when a truck drove onto the emergency shoulder, hitting them both, police said.

Orrego-Savala, 37, fled on foot and was later apprehended, according to cops.

Police said that Orrego-Savala, who was using the alias Alex Cabrera Gonsales, was believed to be intoxicated and driving without a license at the time of the collision. A breath test found his blood alcohol content to be 0.239 percent, over the limit of .08 percent, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The crash threw one of the victims into the center lane of the highway, where that victim was also hit by a responding state police trooper, police said. Both Jackson, 26, and Monroe, 54, died at the scene, police said.

Besides the two deportations, Orrego-Savala was convicted of driving under the influence in California in 2005 and has had many other misdemeanor arrests and convictions in California and Indiana, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson Nicole Alberico.

President Trump blasted Orrego-Savala on Twitter Tuesday, writing that it’s “so disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border, and with illegal immigration, FAST!”

Several Indiana politicians also linked the crash to immigration.

Colts General Manager Chris Ballard told reporters this morning that his thoughts were “with Edwin and Jeffrey and their families.”

To the families, he said, “We’re going to be with you every step of the way as an organization.”

“What Edwin stood for, the type of kid he was, the type of man he is, how he wanted to be great at football, how he wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives, and that’s important.

“It’s important that we remember [Jackson] for the things he stood for,” Ballard said. “What Edwin stood for, the type of kid he was, the type of man he is, how he wanted to be great at football, how he wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives … and it’s a shame his life was cut short.”

ABC News’ Dom Proto contributed to this report.

Charges have been filed against undocumented immigrant who allegedly drove drunk and killed two men in a car crash, including Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson.

The incident drew attention from President Donald Trump and others, who said the case illustrated the need to crack down on illegal immigration, but Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry slammed that move.

“We will vigorously prosecute this matter, just like any comparable crime, not because of the immigration status of an accused, but because two innocent men lost their lives in this horrible incident.”

“We are disheartened that ghoulish and inappropriate public commentary has politicized this tragedy,” Curry said, adding, “Much of such commentary including tweets by the President, fails to acknowledge that both Edwin Jackson and Jeffrey Monroe lost their lives on Sunday. We will simply seek justice on behalf of the families of those two victims.”

Manuel Orrego-Savala, of Guatemala, has been charged with two counts of causing death when operating a motor vehicle and two counts of failure to remain at the scene of an accident.

A judge today entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, the prosecutor’s office told ABC News. Defense attorney Jorge Torres said today that his client is distraught and confused and that his immigration status isn’t related to the car accident, according to The Associated Press. Torres did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

The crash took place Sunday after Jackson, who was a passenger in a car, became ill, and the man driving him, Jeffrey Monroe, pulled over, the Indiana State Police said. The men were standing outside the car on the side of I-70 in Marion County when a truck drove onto the emergency shoulder, hitting them both, police said.

Orrego-Savala, 37, fled on foot and was later apprehended, according to cops.

Police said that Orrego-Savala, who was using the alias Alex Cabrera Gonsales, was believed to be intoxicated and driving without a license at the time of the collision. A breath test found his blood alcohol content to be 0.239 percent, over the limit of .08 percent, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The crash threw one of the victims into the center lane of the highway, where that victim was also hit by a responding state police trooper, police said. Both Jackson, 26, and Monroe, 54, died at the scene, police said.

Besides the two deportations, Orrego-Savala was convicted of driving under the influence in California in 2005 and has had many other misdemeanor arrests and convictions in California and Indiana, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson Nicole Alberico.

President Trump blasted Orrego-Savala on Twitter Tuesday, writing that it’s “so disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border, and with illegal immigration, FAST!”

Several Indiana politicians also linked the crash to immigration.

Colts General Manager Chris Ballard told reporters this morning that his thoughts were “with Edwin and Jeffrey and their families.”

To the families, he said, “We’re going to be with you every step of the way as an organization.”

“What Edwin stood for, the type of kid he was, the type of man he is, how he wanted to be great at football, how he wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives, and that’s important.

“It’s important that we remember [Jackson] for the things he stood for,” Ballard said. “What Edwin stood for, the type of kid he was, the type of man he is, how he wanted to be great at football, how he wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives … and it’s a shame his life was cut short.”

ABC News’ Dom Proto contributed to this report.