ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The family of a five-year-old boy who police say was killed in a hit and run in Orangeburg say they can't understand what happened.
The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety says 28-year-old Charles Coulter is being charged with manslaughter in the death of little Ky'Shawn Gallishaw.
"It's just no words to describe it," said Charlene Rankin, the boy's aunt. "It's just cold and heartless.".
Officers say it was a little after 7 p.m. last Friday when the 5-year-old was walking from his grandmother’s house with an older relative.
Gallishaw's family says Ky'shawn got excited that his sister was calling his name and let go of the relative’s hand and began to walk in front her. That’s when investigators say an SUV came down the road, hit the 5-year-old boy. The driver, police say, didn't stop to check on him; instead, the officers say Coulter kept driving.
"He lied on that ground, blood coming from him." Rankin said. "And it is hurting. That's something I've got to walk out my door and look at every day seeing my nephew got killed. Killed him, right in front of me."
Coulter said during a court hearing over the weekend that he didn't stop because he had someone in his car who had warrants.
"Now we have to live without the sound of him, the voice of him, we can't get that back." Rankin goes on to say, " That's my 'Sugar Foot'. He was everybody's heart. He was 5 years-old. The only thing you could think about was seeing his smile. He was always running up to people and getting them laughing and smiling...he was that little boy that everybody considered to be their son."
Bond for Coulter has been denied.