The suspect in a hit-and-run crash in Concord, which killed two boys, left a 3-month-old baby in critical condition and severely injured their mother, was slapped with murder charges on Wednesday, according to the District Attorney's Office.
The suspect, identified as Lemuel Wilson, faces two counts each of murder and driving under the influence, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. His bail has been set at $2 million.
The children's mother Aida Reyes was faced with a heartbreaking task on Wednesday, her sister said.
"She had to pick caskets for her kids," Gabriela Reyes said.
The 35-year-old man has a spotted past, according to police, and was arrested for battery and forgery just three days before the horrific collision.
The suspect and his brother are accused of threatening to shoot and kill Nordstrom staff at Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton on June 24, according to a police report. An employee claimed that Lemuel Wilson pushed him and sought to press charges. Having received multiple complaints, police arrested the man for making criminal threats and battery.
Officers then searched Lemuel Wilson and found a .40 caliber handgun bullet. A sweep of his vehicle also led police to an embossing machine – that is used to imprint symbols onto blank credit cards, a credit card scanner, and hundreds of credit cards in the suspect's name.
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The list of possible charges against Wilson grew to include intent to forgery due to his possession of card scanning devices, making counterfeit credit cards, and being a felon in possession of ammunition for a firearm. NBC Bay Area has learned that the suspect's lengthy criminal past also includes at least two prior DUIs and drug charges.
The man reportedly pled not guilty to the slew of recent charges, only to take a drive Friday night that ended in two deaths.
"He got out on Thursday and he killed my babies on Friday," Aida Reyes said.
Vincent Reyes-Rothenberg, 5, and Lorenzo Reyes, 10, who had just left a drive-in movie, were killed in a hit-and-run crash on state Highway 4, the Contra Costa County coroner's office said.
The young brothers were in a gray 2006 Dodge Durango that was traveling on the on-ramp from Solano Way to westbound Highway 4 around 10:55 p.m. Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
At the same time, a silver 2004 Infiniti sedan was traveling west on Highway 4 and took the Solano Way off-ramp, which is adjacent to the on-ramp, but veered off the off-ramp and slammed into the left rear side of the Dodge, CHP officials said.
The collision caused the boys to be ejected from the car, which was pushed to the edge of the on-ramp, while the Infiniti crashed through a fence and stopped just feet from the door of a nearby Kinder's restaurant, according to the CHP.
The two boys were pronounced dead at the scene. A third child, 3-month-old Luciano, who was restrained in a car seat, suffered major injuries and was taken to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland.
The boys' 35-year-old mother, Aida Reyes, also suffered major injuries and was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.
Witnesses identified the Infiniti driver as Wilson, who fled the scene and ran across the highway.
Officers notified all regional hospitals of Wilson's identity in case he showed up for treatment of injuries from the crash. He went to Highland Hospital in Oakland to seek care, said a friend of the victims' family. Hospital officials notified the CHP, and officers arrived to interview Wilson. He was officially taken into custody at 12:35 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of two counts of vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run causing great bodily injury and driving on a suspended or revoked license.
Speaking outside the hospital where her baby is still fighting for his life, Aida Reyes on Wednesday expressed her frustration at the situation.
"If you are a multiple offender on a DUI charge, you should be sitting in jail regardless of what it is," she said.
NBC Bay Area's Terry McSweeney and Sergio Quintana contributed to this report.
