Georgia teen charged in fatal Florida hit-and-run
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A spring breaker who was visiting Daytona Beach from Georgia earlier this month and believed to have been behind the wheel of a vehicle involved in a deadly hit-and-run incident, appeared before a Volusia County judge on Wednesday.
Christopher Moore, 19, is accused of running down a motorcyclist following an altercation at a bar. Moore was arrested in Lowndes County, Georgia on Friday and brought back to Florida. He is charged with leaving the scene of a crash with death, though authorities would like to see the charge upgraded.
In video released by the Daytona Beach Police Department, investigators said it shows a minivan behind two motorcycles just after 3 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, April 3. One of the men on the motorcycles was 42-year-old Rodger Martin. He was hit and killed by the driver of the minivan, according to authorities.
Police Chief Mike Chitwood said they believe the hit-and-run incident was done on purpose. "This was absolutely an intentional act," he said during a news conference last week. "That man died a horrific death, and the cowards and the punks that were in that van need to be brought to justice."
Chief Chitwood said there was a fight outside a bar shortly before Martin was run down and killed. "Moore gets in the van, loads up the posse, and says, 'We're going to get him!' and at a high rate of speed, running red lights and medians, he comes across our victim, Roger, and intentionally veers into our victim," Chitwood said.
Chitwood said the minivan then proceeded for over two blocks with the motorcycle wedged under the vehicle. Now, Moore may be facing possible murder charges as a result of his alleged actions.
Moore was booked into the Volusia County Jail with bond set at $40,000.