Federal authorities are asking the public to help locate an Ecuadorian national living in the country illegally who is suspected of a hit-and-run of a 68-year-old pedestrian in New Jersey.
The illegal immigrant allegedly struck the man with his vehicle and fled the scene on foot in Morristown—leaving the victim pinned under a truck, where he later died.
“We are calling on the public to report any sighting of Wilson Adrian Morocho-Necta,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This illegal alien is the lead suspect in a hit and run that killed Justo Pilco-Tenesaca and remains at large. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of this illegal alien, they should immediately contact ICE at 866-DHS-2-ICE.”
Morocho-Necta first crossed the southern border into the United States illegally in 2019. He was eventually ordered removed by an immigration judge and deported to Mexico, but he re-entered the country again at an unknown location and time.
Hit-and-Run in North Carolina
A similar incident unfolded in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a Guatemalan national living in the country illegally was taken into federal custody in January after being accused of a hit-and-run that ultimately claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl.
Xocop-Vicente fled on foot after the crash. Local police arrested him the next day and charged him with felony hit-and-run, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license. But local authorities released him on bond before ICE could file an immigration detainer—and on Dec. 2, while Amber was still fighting for her life in the hospital, prosecutors dropped the driving-without-a-license charge.
ICE Director Todd Lyons was direct in his criticism of the city’s handling of the case.
“My heart is with Amber’s family—and although nothing can ease the pain of losing a child, ICE will continue arresting and removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from North Carolina and across the country,” Lyons said. “Sanctuary policies have real consequences, and this is one of them. It’s heartbreaking, but this tragedy was preventable. ICE isn’t waiting for another tragedy to take action; we are out on the streets every day to arrest and remove public safety threats so this doesn’t happen to another child.”
According to the agency, Xocop-Vicente had a prior DUI conviction from 2023 and a previous arrest on assault charges. Federal officials said this was the second time Charlotte’s policies had allowed him to avoid deportation following an arrest.
