05:56 PM PST on Wednesday, December 28, 2005

From KING Staff Reports

TACOMA - A man charged with vehicular homicide in the death of a Tacoma 12-year-old on Christmas has a history of drunken driving.

James Lawrence Anderson, 44, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to counts of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident.

Court records indicate he has a prior conviction for drunken driving in 1983 and may have another in 1996, which prosecutors are trying to confirm.

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frederick Fleming set bail at $300,000.

Anderson has reportedly admitted to much of what he is charged with.

According to charging papers, he reportedly told police he had five beers before the accident. He also admitted to knowing he hit a person, fleeing the scene, and then reporting his car stolen to avoid getting caught, according to police.

The accident happened as Gerald Reed and his cousin were crossing the street near the intersection at 34th and Pacific Avenue in Tacoma Sunday night.

Anderson’s southbound car allegedly hit Reed and fled.

Some 50 members of Reed’s family were in court Wednesday to see Anderson charged and demand a harsh punishment in the death of the boy they called “Baby G.”

“I don't want him to get off easy. He shouldn't get off easy. We're not getting off easy. We're going to bury my nephew,” said Ranae Oya, Reed’s aunt.

KING

Gerald Reed was struck by a car near the intersection of 34th and Pacific Avenue in Tacoma.

This is the second tragedy this month for Gerald Reed's family. On December 19, someone fired shots into and East Tacoma house, hitting Reed's 22-year-old cousin, Joseph Dillon. Dillon died later at Tacoma General Hospital. Police have not arrested a suspect, but do not believe the shooting was random.