In Ventura County, a homeless man previously accused of intentionally driving into a group of students at Westlake High School, causing the death of one student, now faces a charge of first-degree murder. The individual, known as Austin Eis, is now undergoing a revised case by the county prosecutors.
On April 18th, Eis had reportedly attacked a Walmart employee in Simi Valley with pepper spray and a knife, attempted to kidnap another employee and threatened others on site. He is also accused of forcing entry into a relative’s home in Camarillo.
According to the prosecutors, not too long after these incidents, Eis purposely drove his vehicle into students right outside Westlake High School. The tragic event resulted in the death of 15-year-old Wesley Welling and injured three other students.
In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Eis now faces 19 counts of attempted murder. The updated complaint includes premeditation to the charges based on the ongoing investigation revealing new evidence supporting these additional charges. Senior Deputy District Attorney, Amber Lee, stated that the amended complaint reflects this newfound evidence.
Despite the charges, Eis has pleaded not guilty and is currently held without bail.