Community demands justice in the fatal hit-and-run of 10-year-old Jordan Hill
Activist Marquell Bridges was recently in Liberty, Mississippi, advocating for Trumaine White, a Black father found dead in jail after being arrested in October 2024, when another Black family approached.
Their 10-year-old son, nephew and cousin, Jordan Hill, had just been killed a few days prior, on April 6. The man who allegedly killed him, Cody Rollinson, White, was only charged with possessing marijuana in a motor vehicle and felony leaving the scene of an accident. The family wants to see the charge upgraded to vehicular homicide.
Mr. Bridges, president and founder of Building Bridges for Community Unity and Progress, had launched his one-day statewide tour for justice and accountability on April 10. He and families affected by police brutality and racialized gun violence traveled to different cities in Mississippi.
“As we were out there protesting and seeking justice and accountability, transparency for Trumaine White, the cousins and aunties of Jordan Hill approached me and the ‘Freedom Ride’ asking for help,” he said to The Final Call. The family was getting ready to hold a vigil and memorial.
Jordan was in the grass on the side of the road riding his ATV (all-terrain vehicle or 4-wheeler) when Mr. Rollinson ran off the road in his pickup truck and hit the 10-year-old, Mr. Bridges, who is serving as the family’s spokesperson, said. Mr. Rollinson left the scene, then returned for his truck’s mirror, the activist shared.
The video has not been released publicly. The Final Call was told that the release may violate the ongoing investigation.
Mr. Bridges accused local law enforcement of giving Mr. Rollinson a “slap on the wrist.” In a Facebook live video recorded on April 10, Mr. Bridges, other activists, and members of Jordan’s family interacted with officers from the Amite County Sheriff’s Office. One of the officers told the crowd that Mr. Rollinson allegedly had marijuana in his system, but they would have to wait for a crime lab report for additional charges.
Investigators are waiting on the results of a toxicology report, and additional charges are pending, according to a CBS-affiliate based in Jackson, Miss. The local TV station reported that several agencies, including the Mississippi Highway Patrol, are assisting with the investigation.
“We are in the investigative stages of this case. We do not have any update to provide at this time. We will provide you with information moving forward,” a spokesperson for the family’s legal team said to The Final Call.
The Final Call called the Amite County Sheriff’s Office and was told the office could not discuss the case due to the active investigation, could not send a police report and that they are waiting for the toxicology report from the crime lab. No exact date was given for when the report is expected to be completed. The Final Call also contacted the Mississippi Highway Patrol who stated they would send a request to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. Rollinson is currently out on a bond, which was set at $41,000.
“He had marijuana in his truck,” Mr. Bridges alleges. He further alleges, “They gave him the murder weapon back. And he only stays like a mile down the road from Jordan Hill’s family, so they have to see him every day riding by in the murder weapon back.”
Less than 1,000 people live in Liberty, Miss. The majority-White city covers about two square miles.
A Change.org petition, “Demand Justice for the Hit and Run Victim—10-year-old Jordan Hill,” about the tragic case stated, “The disregard towards this blatant act of reckless endangerment is simply egregious and the absence of immediate detention is a gross miscarriage of justice, which not only paints a disturbing picture of our system but significantly fractures our societal trust.
We demand that Cody of Amite County, Mississippi, be arrested and charged with Jordan’s death. This isn’t simply about attaining justice for Jordan alone, but about ensuring the safety of all children in our community.”
The statement continued, “Everyone should feel safe in their own neighborhood; this requires accountability for such horrifying actions.”
Jordan was a student at Amite County Elementary, which released a statement on its Facebook page on April 7 calling him “a cherished member of our school family.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, teachers, and classmates during this difficult time. Our school community is grieving together, and we are here to support one another in the days ahead. We will honor Jordan’s memory and keep his spirit alive in our hearts. We love you Jordan,” the statement read.
Jordan’s funeral service was held on April 19. His grandfather, Maurice Brown, remembered his grandson as being full of energy and always positive, according to an NBC-affiliate based in Jackson, Miss.
“Jordan was the ideal kid. If you look in the dictionary under ‘optimistic,’ you’re seeing his picture. He’s optimistic. Also very, very energetic. Very ambitious, always looking to do something. Always looking to learn something. And he didn’t sit there just swiping left and right on the device. He was always outside playing,” Mr. Brown said.
Jordan loved playing baseball. His teammates attended the celebration of life, and he was given the most valuable player award, the TV station reported. “When you think about the fact that he’s only 10 years old and he’s already gone now, this gives us a mindset that we need to cherish today,” Mr. Brown said.
The local news station quoted Jordan’s cousin, Monique Jackson, who expressed that she was “Mad,” “hurt,” and “sad.”
“We should not be having a funeral for a child,” she said.
For Mr. Bridges, “true justice would be Jordan Hill still being here, playing baseball, loving on his family, lighting up every room he walked in.”
“What we’re seeking now is accountability, transparency into the investigation, into everything that’s going on, answers to why he was so lightly charged in the first place, and the correct murder vehicular manslaughter … put on this guy, this Cody Rollinson,” he said. “That’s the first start, having the charge. He gets his day in court. Jordan Hill doesn’t get his day. Just the right charges placed on this guy.”
