A six-year-old killed a day after his birthday in a hit-and-run is remembered as a joyful child
The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office said, a 41-year-old man is facing charges after a hit-and-run that killed six-year-old Deaunta White.
The mother of Deaunta White, Claudine Swatt, is heartbroken while trying to make sense of her son's death.
"I saw my baby laying down there. He wasn't even gone that long, like two minutes," Swatt said.
Monday, Deaunta was on his way to pick up breakfast just before 9 a.m. When he attempted to cross the street near the intersection of LaPlace and East Liberaux streets in Chalmette, he was hit by a vehicle.
"I was kissing and telling him don't get up, mama is right here it's going to be alright," Swatt said.
According to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office, the driver, identified as Napoleon Espino, 41, hit the child while driving a 2007 Honda Ridgeline and kept going.
"Just left my baby there like that," Swatt said.
She said her baby boy turned six Sunday, and they threw him a birthday party filled with laughter and smiles.
Through their pain, the family was kind enough to share a precious photo, the last photo taken of Deaunta before his life was cut short.
"I got him a steak and stuff; we put up the jumping bag. He enjoyed himself. The whole neighborhood came celebrated with him. He was a beautiful child, he just gone," Swatt said.
Donald Williams said what happened to his baby cousin is hard to process, and having someone leave his body lifeless is brutal.
"Anytime you could do something that treacherous, that atrocious to a child. He made six yesterday. You know, to anyone," Williams said.
As Deontey's family hold tight to each other, they are remembering the good times the six-year-old brought joy to their lives.
"I'm going to miss everything about him. I'm going to miss him waking up in the morning. He had his little song, good morning to you and to you and you too. He started me singing it. I'm going to miss everything about him," Swatt said.