CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A man is in custody following a deadly hit-and-run crash on South Battlefield Boulevard earlier this week where 8-year-old Forrest Hooper was killed.
Police tell us that 38-year-old Richard William Humbert of Virginia Beach has been arrested in connection with the crash and charged with felony hit-and-run resulting in death.
Humbert will be arraigned Friday morning.
The investigation is still ongoing and further charges may be pending, according to police.
A growing memorial sits on South Battlefield Boulevard, filled with balloons and flowers to remember Forrest Hooper.
The owner of Hickory Towing, Matt Cilento, says a surveillance camera in front of his business on South Battlefield Boulevard captured the suspect’s car going down the road. Matt Cilento says the surveillance video was crucial in police finding the suspect.
"We immediately looked at the surveillance cameras and within a matter of minutes, we were able to identify a car we believed was the suspect's car," Cilento said. "We had the year, make and model of the vehicle, and a good picture of the car with the damage."
Originally, Hickory Towing, Travis Specialized Transport and concerned citizens raised $59,000 for reward money to find the driver.
Now that police have made an arrest with help from surveillance video rather than a community tip, Cilento says the money raised will go to the 8-year-old’s family for funeral expenses.
Cilento says he’s a former Chesapeake police officer and is relieved an arrest was made. He says he was present when the driver was arrested.
"We have a contract with the city where we tow vehicles involved in fatal car accidents in Chesapeake," Cilento said. "So, we had to go to Virginia Beach to pick the vehicle up and bring it back. It was all Chesapeake Police and a couple Virginia Beach Police there to assist."
On Wednesday, we spoke with businesses that were coming together to try to help identify the person responsible for the child's death.
Chesapeake
$50,000 reward offered for driver info who hit, killed Chesapeake boy
Chesapeake Public Schools identified the boy as Forrest Hooper and provided the following statement Wednesday:
"Good afternoon, this is an important message from Tracy Cioppa, principal of Southeastern Elementary School.
It is with a heavy heart that I report to you that one of our third-grade students, Forrest Hooper has passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. I also offer condolences to all the Southeastern Elementary School students and staff members, especially Forrest’s classmates, teachers, and support staff.In addition to our school’s guidance counselors, grief counselors, and crisis counselors will be at our school for the next few days for staff and students who may need assistance throughout the day. It is our hope that our counselors can help our school community deal with this tragic loss. Please remember that your Southeastern Elementary Family is here for you, to support you however we can.
Thank you for supporting Southeastern Elementary, our faculty, and our staff."
In the 1700 block of S. Battlefield Boulevard Wednesday, there were no signs of the tragedy that occurred there Tuesday, but Hickory Towing owner Matthew Cilento recalled the scene.
“There was at least 30-40 officers here working the case," Cilento said from the edge of the driveway into his business.
He estimated the boy was in front of a home two driveways down.
Cilento had provided surveillance video from his business to investigators but declined to provide it to News 3 Wednesday, saying he didn’t want to interfere with the investigation.
He made a Facebook post offering $5,000 for information about who hit the boy. Word spread and other businesses offered money, bringing the total to $50,000 by mid-afternoon Wednesday.
A celebration of life for the boy with food, drinks, and music was scheduled for 12-5 p.m. Oct. 8 at the lot directly across from Hickory Towing. The towing business is located at 1740 S. Battlefield Blvd.
