CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — A charge against the man who’s accused of killing an 8-year-old in a hit-and-run was certified to a grand jury Wednesday in Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Richard Humbert appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on a single charge of not reporting an accident that resulted in injury or death/failure to stop. He’s accused of killing Forrest Hooper on Oct. 3. He did not testify.
The court heard testimony from police and first responders. The first officer on the scene described pulling up to two people performing CPR on a child.
Despite at least four people performing CPR, including EMS personnel, the boy never regained conciousness.
The officer told the court that he saw one of Hooper’s shoes in the road and the other by a tree in the yard.
Evidence photos were also submitted to the court showing damage to the front of a white Honda Civic, including a slightly raised hood.
A forensic tech explained on the stand that evidence fibers were found on the hood and windshield of the car, along with a handprint that was found on the hood.
The lead detective on the case told the court that he was able to find Humbert’s license plate number on a video taken nearby and linked the car to him.
Humbert was arrested at his home in Virginia Beach. The detective said that Humbert said he’d thought he’d hit a deer or other animal and stopped at a gas station shortly afterward to assess the damage.
The detective testified that Humbert told him he didn’t apply the brakes, return to the scene or call police because he said he didn’t know he was supposed to.
The detective said that Humbert was cooperative and “showed emotion” when told that he’d struck a child.
Hooper’s grandmother sat in court Wednesday. She told 10 On Your Side she could not speak on the case. It’s been nearly five months and her family is still feeling the void Forrest left behind. His father Ben Hooper has since moved out of the commonwealth.
A Circuit Court date has not been set yet in this case.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.