'Slap in the face': 2 teens face misdemeanor charges in deadly Chicago crash that killed 6-month-old boy

CHICAGO - Two teens accused of causing a deadly crash with a stolen vehicle are facing misdemeanor charges, but the victim’s family members and community activists are pleading with prosecutors to implement harsher penalties.

A 14-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy each face one misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing in connection to the Sunday, April 16 crash that resulted in the death of a six-month-old baby.

Community activists say the charges are merely a "slap on the wrist" while family members tell FOX 32 Chicago it is a "slap in the face."

"We’re enraged, and we’re asking how and why this is possible," said Annelisse Rivera, the victim’s aunt. "And they injured three other people on top of killing someone."

Last Sunday, six-month-old Cristian Uvidia was a passenger in his family’s pickup truck when a stolen car barreled into it at Washington and Kostner in West Garfield Park.

The truck was then sent head-first into a tree.

Police say the crash was caused by reckless teens behind the wheel of the stolen Hyundai.

The baby's mother and two older sisters were also hurt, but have since been released from the hospital.

Uvidia turned six months old just one day before the crash, Rivera told FOX 32.

"He was the sweetest, purest, most innocent little angel, and his life was cut short," said Rivera.

More than one week later – and despite the crash being caught on surveillance video – the teens arrested at the scene have only been charged with criminal trespassing to a vehicle.

"You all opened up the door and closed the door and got in that car and took off. Now she has to open up a casket, close the casket and never see her baby again. The car is going to be replaceable, the baby is not going to be replaceable," said community activist and crisis responder Andrew Holmes.

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Holmes held a news conference Monday to express his outrage over the current charges.  

"I'm asking State's Attorney Kim Foxx and anyone else in the State’s Attorney’s Office to upgrade this to reckless homicide, this was a homicide," said Holmes. "Somebody’s gotta wake up, somebody’s gotta do something."

Loved ones and community activists are calling on the Cook County State's Attorney's Office to enhance the charges filed against the teens and set an example to help prevent another family from experiencing the same pain.

"They’re free, not only that, they have this in their head that they can do these types of crimes and walk away scot-free," said Rivera. "It’s not a matter of, ‘Oh is this going to happen again,’ it’s ‘when it’s going to happen again.’"

Rivera also released this statement to FOX 32 Chicago:

"We are not only saddened by the loss of our precious baby, but we are disgusted by the fact that the city that we know and once loved is choosing to not defend and protect the victims of these terrible crimes, but instead chooses to sympathize with criminals… charging them with a misdemeanor isn’t just a slap on the wrist for them but a slap in the face for our family."

Loved ones tell FOX 32 Chicago they are planning a private funeral for Uvidia.

Meantime, Rivera has started a GoFundMe account to help the family cover the cost of funeral expenses.

FOX 32 Chicago reached out to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office asking if additional charges will be filed, or if current charges filed against the teens will be enhanced; a spokesperson referred us to CPD.

CPD said the investigation is still ongoing.