Teen charged in killing man who wouldn’t buy him beer

ABILENE, Texas — Authorities say a 16-year-old boy struck and killed a man with his car outside of a West Texas convenience store after the man refused to buy him beer.

Abilene police spokesman Rick Tomlin said Monday that the teenager has been charged with murder in juvenile court in the death of Jesse Cortinez, a 58-year-old local man. A detention hearing was pending for the teen.

Investigators say the teen approached Cortinez outside the store Friday night and asked Cortinez to buy him some beer. They say Cortinez declined and that the teen drove into him while he was walking away.

A vehicle matching the description was found early Saturday behind an Abilene home. Police arrested the teen after speaking with a number of people found at the home.