First responders on I-5 at approximately 1:45 am on July 4, 2020, after a driver plowed into two Black Femme March protesters, killing one and seriously injuring another. PHOTO BY LARRY SUBRAMANIAN

On Monday a judge set Kelete's bail at $1.2 million. That day Attorney John Henry Browne, who is famous for representing the serial killer Ted Bundy in the 1970s and '80s, told the Associated Press that "Kelete is originally from Eritrea and is a U.S. citizen" and "lives with his family in Seattle." It's important to note, however, that the famous lawyer is not representing the defendant at this time. He is, according Seattle Times, hoping to be hired by Kelete's family. It is in the nature of a famous Lawyer to be drawn to a famous case.

The charging documents provide some information about the defendant. They mention "a criminal history that includes a minor intoxicated in a public place (3/3/2012) and a peace and order violation (8/29/2015). Both of these occurred in Pullman, WA when he was 19 years old and 22 years old respectfully." These incidents apparently happened when Kelete attended Washington State University. Kelete was also involved in two collisions with "no injuries." Furthermore, he "lives with his parents" and "works as a cashier at an Arco," and he "denied having any known mental health issues or being concerned about mental health issues," though he did say he "was struggling with an addiction to Percocet and 'had never received treatment.'"

Because Kelete’s family has so far "declined to comment on the case," this is all the public knows in hard terms about the defendant.

But the public, however, does have many opinions about Kelete, his motives, and the crash. An examination of three such opinions will tell us little about the case and defendant but a lot about our culture.