Mother wants justice for son killed in hit-and-run

Avory Glover was 11 years old when he was killed by a hit and run driver along Dealwood Road in El Centro 2 years ago. On Thursday, his mother, Charla Huggins, was in court demanding justice.

“I demand justice for myself as mother, for his siblings. I demand justice for my family,” Huggins said.

Police identified James Edward Killian as the driver of the car that hit glover. Prosecutors allege he fled the scene and hid his vehicle in a remote area. He was arrested several days after the accident and the car was found.

“We’re going to court now to prosecute the guy that hit and run, who killed my son,” Huggins said.

Huggins expressed fears that justice won’t be made in her son’s death.
“I have a little bit of doubt that they won’t come back with the right verdict,” Huggins said.

The grieving mother wanted a charge of murder. Bu, Killian is charged with a misdemeanor and a felony – punishable with up to five years in prison.

“What they’re charging him with is not just. So, I don’t believe that that’s just. Murder should be just in this case,” Huggins said.

Friends of the family complained Killian might be given a lenient sentence if found guilty, because he’s white. They said race should not be an issue here.

Hilton Smith, coordinator of Imperial Valley’s Black Lives Matter has been following the case closely. “There is no racial component of this particular case. It’s only about justice for an eleven-year-old kid who lost his life two and a half years ago,” Smith said.

Marlene Thomas, friend of the Huggins family, was in court showing her support.

“A life has no color. Breath has no color. We’re dealing with a human being – a life. Race, if it’s brought in, that’s not where we are. We’re talking about a life that was stolen,” Thomas said.

After several days of trial, jury deliberations began on Thursday. Killian’s attorney claims his client sold the car prior to the accident, but didn’t present proof of the alleged sale.