Driver pleads not guilty in deaths of Pepperdine students

Fraser Bohm on Wednesday pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles courtroom to four charges of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Prosecutors allege Bohm, 22, killed four people in a car wreck on Oct. 17. A judge set his bond at $4 million. The four pedestrians who died were sorority sisters and seniors at Pepperdine University, a Christian institution. Two other students walking in the group suffered injuries.

How was he charged with murder? Police initially arrested Bohm on vehicular manslaughter charges but then released him to continue their investigation. Police then re-arrested him earlier this week on the upgraded charges of murder. Bohm’s lawyers said in court that he was fleeing a driver pursuing him after a road rage incident when he crashed into parked cars and the students.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report in Liberties about parents suing California schools for religious discrimination.