(CBS DETROIT) – Ahmad Nyjahjuan Jatta, 30, was charged this week after authorities said he allegedly drove drunk. killing a 7-year-old boy and injuring three others.
“He really traumatized our whole family,” Jawyna Griffin said.
Griffin’s cousin, Jerome Coleman Jr., was killed Saturday afternoon when Jatta crashed into another driver at Seven Mile and Mound Roads.
Jerome Jr. was thrown from the vehicle and died on the spot.
“He made our day so beautiful, and for him to be taken away from us like this is just not fair,” Griffin said.
Jerome’s sister Kiaree, 5, was rushed to hospital and is in critical condition.
“She has a fractured skull, she has a bleed on the brain and a broken shoulder blade, and her collarbone is broken,” Griffin said.
Kiaree is expected to survive, but Griffin said she has a long road to recovery.
Griffin said she reviewed Jatta’s indictment via Zoom on Tuesday. He was charged with driving under the influence causing death and three counts of drunken driving causing injury. said he fled the scene after the crash, turned himself in two hours later and was still twice the legal drink limit.
Griffin said the charges were even more traumatizing for her family.
“When I saw him at the appointment, he looked like he had no regrets at all, no remorse,” she said.
Jatta is due back in court on December 2.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page under the name Jerome Coleman Jr. to raise money for funeral costs.
The family is also planning a special balloon release on Saturday at 4:38 PM at Jerome Jr. to commemorate. This will take place at the crash site at Seven Mile and Mound Roads, at the exact time the crash occurred.
Gino Vicci
