Illegal Alien Charged in Fatal North Carolina Hit-and-Run

25-year-old Mexican national Erasto Lopez-Gomez accused of killing 62-year-old Christopher Babcock while riding his motorcycle

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:20am

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A 25-year-old illegal alien from Mexico named Erasto Lopez-Gomez has been charged with felony hit-and-run in connection with a fatal crash that killed 62-year-old Christopher Babcock in Winterville, North Carolina. Babcock was riding his motorcycle when Lopez-Gomez, who had previously been apprehended by Border Patrol and released, allegedly slammed into him and fled the scene.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the potential public safety risks posed by illegal immigrants who commit crimes. The Biden administration's 'catch and release' policies have come under scrutiny, with critics arguing they enable dangerous individuals to remain in the country and endanger innocent lives.

The details

Investigators were able to recover footage from Babcock's phone that captured the moment of impact. They then traced the vehicle involved to Lopez-Gomez, who had been previously apprehended by Border Patrol near Tucson, Arizona, after illegally crossing the border. Despite being in the country illegally, Lopez-Gomez was released and went on to allegedly commit this fatal hit-and-run.

  • The crash occurred on March 15, 2026 in a rural area of Pitt County, North Carolina.
  • Lopez-Gomez was arrested and charged with felony hit-and-run this week.

The players

Erasto Lopez-Gomez

A 25-year-old illegal alien from Mexico who has been charged with felony hit-and-run in connection with the crash that killed Christopher Babcock.

Christopher Babcock

A 62-year-old North Carolina resident who was tragically killed while riding his motorcycle when Lopez-Gomez allegedly slammed into him and fled the scene.

Donna Babcock

The widow of Christopher Babcock, who said she is 'broken' and that the suspect 'took my life that day as well.'

U.S. Border Patrol

The agency that had previously apprehended Lopez-Gomez after he illegally crossed the southern border, before releasing him into the country.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The agency that has lodged a detainer against Lopez-Gomez to ensure he is not released from jail into the general public.

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What they’re saying

“I'm broken. This person took my life that day as well.”

— Donna Babcock, Widow of Christopher Babcock

“This criminal illegal alien should have NEVER been in our country and able to kill Christopher Babcock. The Biden Administration's catch and release policies let this criminal into our community, and now a widow is mourning the loss of her husband.”

— Lauren Bis, Acting Assistant Secretary, Department of Homeland Security

What’s next

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer against Lopez-Gomez to ensure he remains in custody and is not released back into the community.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the potential public safety risks posed by illegal immigrants who commit crimes. It has reignited criticism of the Biden administration's 'catch and release' approach, which opponents argue enables dangerous individuals to remain in the country and endanger innocent lives.