Tom Jones of WSB-TV says a Clayton County couple is still trying to process what they witnessed: a driver they believe hit a child, then kept going like nothing happened.
Jones reported from Riverdale Road near Garden Walk, where the crash happened. The couple told him they decided, in that moment, they were going to do everything in their power to make sure the driver didn’t disappear into the night.
That decision turned into a chase that lasted roughly 30 minutes, stretched across two counties, and forced them into the uncomfortable role of being both witnesses and pursuers.
I’ll be honest: most people think they know what they’d do in a moment like this, but panic hits differently when you’re actually watching it unfold. The couple didn’t have time to “think it through” the way people do in hindsight. They just acted.
“I Got It. I Got It.” The Moment They Realized They Had To Help
Jones says the husband and wife recorded cellphone video as they tried to get the suspect’s tag number.
In Jones’ report, you can hear the tension in the couple’s voices. The husband says, “I got it. I got it,” as they try to catch the plate while also talking to 911.
Jones explains why getting the plate was hard: the driver had a temporary tag, and the couple said the numbers were very small, making them difficult to read while the vehicle was moving.
That detail matters because it shows this wasn’t some clean, controlled pursuit. It was messy, stressful, and probably terrifying. And yet, the couple told Jones they were determined to get the tag and make sure the driver didn’t get away.
The Wife’s Anger Wasn’t Quiet
Jones says the couple asked not to be identified, but the wife didn’t hide how she felt.
“I was upset. I was highly upset,” she told Jones.
In the video Jones referenced, she can be heard confronting the driver out loud as they follow him: “Why would you hit the little boy and keep going? Why would you hit him and keep going?”
That isn’t polite language, and it’s not meant to be. It’s a raw reaction to something that feels unthinkable – watching a child get struck, then watching the driver refuse to stop.
And as hard as it is to say, anger is sometimes the fuel that keeps people moving when fear tries to freeze them in place. Jones’ reporting makes it sound like she was furious, but also locked in, focused, and not willing to let the moment slip away.
Who The Child Was And What The Couple Says They Saw
Jones reported that the child killed was 10-year-old Khaleb Jackson.
According to Jones, the couple said they saw the driver hit Khaleb as he tried to cross Riverdale Road near Garden Walk on Sunday night.
Jones adds another heartbreaking detail: Khaleb’s mother said his brother and cousins were with him when he was hit.
That part is brutal. It means this wasn’t just a tragedy for one child. It was a trauma event for other children who were right there, watching it happen, and now living with that memory.
Jones also reported Khaleb was a fourth grader at Marshall Elementary, which makes it even more real. A name, a grade, a school. Not just “a victim,” but a kid who had homework, friends, routines, and a whole life still forming.
The Chase Across Two Counties
Jones says the driver didn’t stop. Instead, the couple said he was moving in and out of traffic and trying to lose them.
The couple told Jones they were honking, flashing lights, and doing anything they could to get the driver’s attention.
They followed him for about 30 minutes, Jones said, and the pursuit continued all the way into Fulton County.
Jones includes the husband’s description of the route, which makes the chase feel more concrete. The husband said, “We chased him down Fulton Industrial and then went to Bankhead and chased him down Bankhead.”
That’s a long way to stay engaged in a moment most people would want to escape from. It also means the couple had to keep making split-second decisions—stay close enough to see the tag, but not close enough to crash, while also relaying information to 911.
Jones also reported the husband’s belief that the driver knew exactly what was happening.
“He was evading us. Evading us. So, he knew we were after him. He knew he hit something or someone,” the husband said, according to Jones.
That’s the part that’s hard to swallow, because it suggests awareness. And if the driver truly knew, then continuing to flee stops looking like confusion and starts looking like a choice.
Getting The Tag Number Was The Whole Point
Jones reports the couple’s recorded video captured them finally getting what they needed: the tag.
In that recording, Jones says you can hear the husband urging, “Write it down. Write it down. P73,” as they lock onto the number.
This is one of those moments where a small detail carries huge weight. A few characters on a plate can be the difference between “unknown suspect” and “police have someone in custody.”
The couple then gave that tag number to police, Jones said, which helped investigators identify the suspect.
This is also where the bigger reality comes in: the couple didn’t “solve” the case alone, but Jones’ report makes it clear they helped build the bridge between the crash and an arrest. That’s not nothing. That’s a massive contribution when minutes matter.
Police Arrest David Blanchard, Court Denies Bond
Jones reported police arrested David Blanchard, and in the article information tied to Jones’ report, the suspect is described as 52 years old.
Jones says Channel 2 was in court the next day when Blanchard appeared before a judge.
In the courtroom exchange Jones describes, Blanchard asked, “You say I don’t have a bond,” and Clayton County Magistrate Court Judge Betrice Scott responded, “No sir.”
Jones also reported the judge told Blanchard directly, “You don’t have a bond right now.”
If you’re the family, that moment probably feels like one of the first solid signs that the system is taking the case seriously. Bond decisions don’t bring a child back, but they do send a message about how a court views the severity of the accusations.
The Charges And The Family’s Gratitude
Jones reports Blanchard faces first-degree homicide by vehicle and hit-and-run charges.
Jones also says Khaleb’s mother thanked the couple for going “above and beyond” to help police take Blanchard into custody.
The couple, though, didn’t talk like they wanted praise. Jones described one of them as a “good Samaritan,” and in his report, the wife said, “It was more so for the Caleb. I just wanted somebody to understand that somebody was there for him.”
That line sits heavy. It’s not about catching a criminal for bragging rights. It’s about refusing to let a child’s last moments be treated like something disposable.
Jones also shared the husband’s explanation for why he stayed involved. He said he has kids, and he understands Khaleb’s family would want answers.
“Anything to help the family out for the little boy. Cause he didn’t ask for this. He didn’t deserve this,” the husband said, as Jones reported it.
What This Story Says About Ordinary People And Unthinkable Moments
Jones’ reporting shows something we don’t talk about enough: sometimes regular people are the only reason a fleeing suspect doesn’t vanish.
That’s not a slam on police. It’s just reality. Police can’t be everywhere at once, and when something happens fast, witnesses become the first domino.
But I also can’t ignore the danger. Following someone who just fled a deadly crash is risky. You don’t know if they’re intoxicated, armed, panicking, or willing to ram you off the road. The couple’s choice was brave, but it was also a gamble.
Still, the part that sticks with me from Jones’ report is the idea of refusing to let the moment pass without a fight. In a world where people often look away, this couple locked in, called 911, recorded what they could, and stayed on the suspect until police had what they needed.
And in the middle of all of it is a fourth grader named Khaleb Jackson, gone far too soon, with siblings and cousins who were close enough to see everything.
If there’s any thin thread of justice forming here, Jones makes clear it started with two strangers in a car who said, “Not tonight. Not this time.”
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.
