The grandmother of a 25-year-old woman killed in a Raleigh hit-and-run says she has forgiven the driver accused of taking her granddaughter’s life.
Tyrone Jamaal Jackson appeared in court Monday for the first time since being charged in the death of Anas’jah Sharnae Leak.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Jackson is charged with felony death by vehicle and hit-and-run resulting in death. Raleigh police said Jackson was driving a Dodge Challenger on Capital Boulevard early Saturday morning when he hit Leak, who was walking on or near the shoulder of the road.
Police said the crash happened around 3:30 a.m. and Jackson fled the scene shortly afterward.
Wake Forest police later stopped Jackson after officers noticed damage to his vehicle. His registration was also expired, according to police.
Leak’s family attended Jackson’s court appearance and later spoke with WRAL from their home.
Her grandmother, Dianne McLaurin, said she was devastated by the loss but felt compelled to forgive Jackson.
“I felt like I wanted to do that today. Just go and hug him. Because he’s somebody’s child. Somebody’s brother, somebody’s uncle,” McLaurin said. “The only part that hurts me – what was her last moments, why he couldn’t stop.”
McLaurin described her granddaughter as selfless and someone who always looked out for other people, often with a smile on her face.
Now, McLaurin said she wants to honor Leak by living the same way.
“I can’t have nothing but peace. That’s all I can have,” she said. “You gotta let go, let God and live. She wouldn’t want us to have hatred in our hearts towards the man that took her life.”
Jackson faces up to about five years in prison if convicted. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 21.
