Relative identifies victim of apparent hit & run in Greenville

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - The relative of an apparent hit and run victim has told WITN the name of the boy.

Cherry Artis, who says she is Jaquile Jackson’s aunt, posted on Facebook early Monday morning that her nephew was missing and she later identified Jackson as the victim. “I’m so hurt they didn’t have to leave my baby like that,” Artis wrote.

Greenville Police Spokesperson Kristen Hunter could not confirm if Jackson is the victim, saying the medical examiner “has not positively identified him yet to my knowledge.”

Artis says Jackson lived on Moyewood Drive, which is about two miles from where the victim’s body was found lying in a ditch early Monday morning.

Greenville police said the crash happened on MacGregor Downs Road between Wyngate Drive and Joel Drive. The initial call came in as a person lying in a ditch.

Police said a scooter was recovered at the scene.

Artis confirmed Jackson was last seen at 10 p.m. riding a scooter.

Angelica Williams, a resident of the MacGregor Downs Road neighborhood, said she saw the police presence in the morning.

“I saw a cop right here, and then I saw like eight cops down there and they had the road blocked off,” Williams said, gesturing to different areas of the road. “We do have a lot of kids walking up and down this road. Day, morning, night... but especially at nighttime we have a lot of people walking.”

Williams wonders if the area could be safer saying, “I think we should get more streetlights.”

Anyone who may have been in the area around 1:30 a.m. or witnessed the collision should call police at 252-702-4032 or Crime Stoppers at 252-758-7777.

Artis says a candlelight balloon release for Jackson will take place Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. where he was found.

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