DA will not file charges against driver who killed mother, struck Tippin Elementary students

The man who struck and killed a mother, and injured three students in the parking lot of Tippin Elementary on the first day of school, will not be charged.

El Paso Independent School District Police said Roger Hawkins was picking up his grandchildren from the school in August 2018. Police said he was backing out of a parking spot when he collided with a vehicle. Hawkins then struck three children. 33-year-old Kharisma James ran out to shield other students, and was run over and killed.

The El Paso District Attorney’s office confirms with ABC-7 that the El Paso Police Department turned over the case to them. A spokeswoman for the DA’s office said they declined the case because the evidence of the case did not meet the elements of a crime. They determined Hawkins did not exhibit criminal intent.

The district attorney’s office emailed ABC-7 the following statement:

“The El Paso District Attorney’s Office has decided not to pursue criminal charges in the tragic death of Kharisma Ashlee James. After careful review of the facts and circumstances of the unfortunate accident, it is the decision of the office that the accident did not involve criminal intent.”