PALMVIEW, Texas — A 15-year-old South Texas boy was charged today with nine counts of murder among other charges after a van he was driving crashed, killing nine of the suspected illegal immigrants packed inside.

The boy, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, appeared at a probable cause hearing this morning. He was also charged with 17 counts of smuggling a person and causing serious bodily harm including death, and one count of evading.

The boy told investigators he drove the van because his family had been threatened, Palmview Police Chief Chris Barrera said.

Barrera said prosecutors would decide whether to try the boy as an adult.

The nine killed in the rollover crash last Tuesday were all Mexican citizens. Barrera said the ground around the van was scattered with bodies.

The boy, a U.S. citizen from Hidalgo County, has cooperated with police since his arrest at home Thursday night.

“You could tell that he wanted to come clean,” Barrera said.