RICHMOND, VA—The man police say fled the scene after he struck and killed a Richmond pedestrian said he fled the scene because he believed he was being shot.
Taj Idrissa Conway, 34, of the 3100 block of Vale Street, has been charged with felony hit-and-run.
Conway's attorney said his client stopped at the scene for a few seconds, but then left after his car's rear windshield fell out. Conway said he believed he was being shot at.
Jeffrey Shawn Smith, 33, of Richmond, was killed Tuesday, August 28, after being struck by a vehicle.
Smith was found lying in the westbound lane of Walmsley Boulevard around 8:42 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Conway's father spoke exclusively with 8News and said his son and his family are heartbroken for the Smiths.
"I don't want the family to think that we aren't thinking about them, because that's not true. We are. We are thinking about the victim and his wife and his kid. We know what family is," Tyrone Conway said.
A preliminary hearing has been set for October 1. Conway is being held without bond at the Richmond City Jail.
Copyright 2012 by Young Broadcasting of Richmond
