Gulfport police arrest 20-year-old suspect in hit and run of 13-year-old girl
The day after Gulfport Police released more surveillance cameras images from a hit and run crash, a suspect is in custody.
David Harrell, 20, of Biloxi is charged with leaving scene of accident causing serious bodily injury.
His bond is set at $150,000.
The 13-year-old girl he allegedly hit, Teshawna Taylor, remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Police Chief Adam Cooper said his department found evidence linking Harrell to the crime in addition to the car with front end damage.
The images showed the dark blue sedan and the alleged suspect.
“It was through these efforts and cooperation of the community that lead officers to Harrell and recovery of the damaged vehicle and other evidence connecting him directly to the crime scene,” Cooper said in a message on Twitter.
The hit-and-run happened around 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 10.
Gulfport police were called to the 15000 block of Dedeaux Road near Dollar General and and found the teen pedestrian lying on the road.
Witnesses told officers the driver of a blue sedan traveling east on Dedeaux struck the victim in the left lane and kept driving eastbound.
She was taken to a local hospital before being life-flighted to a hospital in Alabama.
Family and friends then identified her on social media as Teshawna and asked the community to help find the driver who hit her.
Family said she was in an induced coma with brain swelling.
The Sun Herald will update this story.
This story was originally published June 15, 2023 at 1:56 PM.
