Former Falcons hoops star charged with manslaughter

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Former South High School basketball star Dana King Jr., 23, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault for his involvement in a March 18 high-speed crash that killed one and seriously injured another, according to a news release. If convicted, King Jr. faces up to 15 years in prison.

Nassau County prosecutors allege that around 11:30 p.m. King Jr. watched his ex-girlfriend, who police identified as Isabel Rodriguez, leave her Valley Stream home before getting into the car of 22-year-old Jim Hayes, Jr., and started to follow Hayes Jr. and Rodriguez in his car.

King Jr. reportedly began to pursue the pair in a high-speed chase, at times colliding with Hayes Jr.’s car, before reaching Baldwin Avenue in Hempstead, where a final collision between the two cars sent Hayes Jr.’s BMW spinning, out of control into two parked cars, killing him and leaving Rodriguez seriously injured. She reportedly suffered a broken arm and back.

“This defendant allegedly could not accept that his relationship with his ex-girlfriend was over and as a result Jim Hayes Jr. lost his life,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas in a statement. “The allegations of very high speeds, chasing and striking the car paint a picture of extreme recklessness, and a lack of regard for the lives of anyone in the defendant’s way.”

Bail for King Jr. was continued at $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash and he is due back in court on June 10.