Authorities in Pennsylvania have identified an illegal immigrant as the suspect in a tragic hit-and-run accident.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to Fox News Digital that Saul Rivera-Ramirez, 25, was an illegal immigrant who had previously been deported.
“ERO Philadelphia can confirm that Saul Ramirez-Rivera is a noncitizen who unlawfully resides in the United States.” Ramirez-Rivera was previously expelled from the United States and unlawfully re-entered without admission or parole by an immigration official, according to an ERO representative.
“After his arrest, ERO Philadelphia filed an immigration detainer with the Allegheny County Jail. Given its current policy, ERO Philadelphia predicts that ACJ will not honor the immigration detainer,” the statement stated.
The Allegheny County Police Department said that Rivera-Ramirez had been apprehended and brought into jail for the tragic hit-and-run crash that killed 23-year-old Christian Sluka.
The collision occurred on Saturday night, shortly before 11 p.m., when 911 was contacted about a vehicle colliding with a motorcycle.
According to officials, Rivera-Ramirez was driving a red Ford Taurus and fled on foot with a female and a little child following the collision.
Ramirez-Rivera faces many counts, including vehicular murder and driving without a license.
Allegheny County Jail received him for a preliminary arraignment.
“On Saturday, September 21st, we tragically lost a son, brother, cousin, nephew, and friend,” wrote Sydney Goisse on a GoFundMe page for Sluka.
“Christian was a selfless, hardworking, and talented individual, and his community and family will forever be changed without him,” according to the post.
Social media posts continue to flood in commemorating Sluka, who, according to a Facebook post from Gold Mountain Music, played bass for the band “Osprey.”
“Today, I’m crushed by the loss of Christian Sluka, a tremendous local talent. “As outstanding a bass player as he was, he was also an excellent son, brother, cousin, nephew, and friend,” the message stated. “He was a core part of the Gold Mountain Music community, attending nearly every event. If he wasn’t on stage with his band Osprey, he was in the crowd with his family, always smiling and caring after his younger brothers. I will be eternally grateful that Christian performed with us, laughed with us, supported us, and was a shining example of generosity to everyone he met.”
