A Mexican national who didn’t have a license reportedly told police he had been drinking for two days before killing two boys on bicycles in a tragic DUI crash in South Carolina.
Eri Otoniel Roblero Perez is accused of driving under the influence and crashing into the two boys at a high rate of speed. He was charged with two counts of felony DUI resulting in death, driving without a license and open container following the crash last Sunday, April 12 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Perez was denied bond at an initial hearing on April 13 and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer against him.
“This tragedy was entirely preventable — and a direct consequence of open-border policies that allowed this criminal to be in our country illegally,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shared on social media with a news clip from Perez’s bond hearing.
Two South Carolina boys, 12-year-old Dereon James Robinson and 9-year-old Mikhail-Lee, are dead because Eri Otoniel Roblero Perez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, chose to drive under the influence. These two boys were riding their bikes when they were hit by the illegal…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 18, 2026
According to WYFF News 4, Perez veered off the road and hit 12-year-old Dereon James Robinson and 9-year-old Mikhail-Lee Smith, who were riding their bikes on the sidewalk. Both boys died at the hospital.
The crash occurred about 12:20 p.m. April 12 near Asheville Highway at Brock Street, around three miles west from the city of Spartanburg, and one of the children’s mothers was a witness to the accident. Spartanburg is about 30 miles northeast of Greenville, South Carolina, in the northern part of the state.
“These boys had their whole lives ahead of them,” ICE reshared on X following news of the fatality. “Instead, they were senselessly taken from this world by someone who never should have been in our country.”
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) April 20, 2026
According to witnesses and police, Perez was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control. His Honda Acura went off the road and hit the children.
Following the crash, Perez was unable to provide a field sobriety test. Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette told the judge his words were slurred and he could not hold himself up while responders were asking him questions.
According to police on scene, Perez had bloodshot eyes and had a strong odor of alcohol on him.
WHNS FOX Carolina reported Perez admitted he had been drinking all day Saturday and Sunday and was so intoxicated a trooper had to hold him up.
Another passenger was in the vehicle but fled the scene and could not be located, according to the solicitor’s office per FOX Carolina.
During Perez’s bond hearing, family members spoke, including one of the mothers.
“I watched him almost hit me and I ran to my son and held my son while he bled to death,” the mother of Dereon, Megan, said in court per WYFF News 4.
According to local reports, the two boys were best friends and frequently spent time together. Dereon Robinson was a student at Berea Middle School.
James McDowell, the brother of 12-year-old Robinson, spoke to the media last week.
“They don’t have their chance to live their life to the fullest,” McDowell said. “If you decide to drink, stay at home It’s not a driving activity. It’s not fun, it’s not cool, for everyone young and old, it’s not cool.”
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Perez entered the country illegally at an unknown date and time.
He is currently being held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center and has been denied bond. Perez will appear for his court date in general sessions on June 18.
“This criminal illegal alien from Mexico had no business being in our country, and now two boys are dead because he decided to drive under the influence,” said DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Dereon Robinson and Mikhail-Lee Smith should still be with us today. Our prayers are with Dereon Robinson’s and Mikhail-Lee Smith’s families.”
Following the crash, David Mathews, founder of BikeFriendlyATL, Inc. held an event at the site of the crash where “ghost bikes” were placed to honor the lives of Robinson and Smith, FOX Carolina
