Family speaks out; suspect now charged in fatal hit-and-run of bicyclist in Kenosha

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Loved ones are now remembering a man killed in a fatal hit-and-run in Kenosha over the weekend.

The victim went by the name JJ and his family says they're heartbroken that he never made it home from a bicycle ride. The man suspected of hitting him and driving off is charged.

The suspect told police he thought he hit a deer and that's why he didn't stop. Police also say the suspect was drinking before the accident. The victim's family is now speaking out and asking for justice.

On Sunday night, 29-year-old JJ Hutcheson was riding his bike home from his sister's house when he was struck by a black Volvo. 

"All he was doing was taking his sister home on her birthday so she made it safe, safely home," said Delise Hutcheson, mother of the victim.

Police say the driver, 39-year-old Ryan Peterson, fled the scene.

It was another driver who pulled over after noticing JJ's bike on the side of the road and called 911.

After he didn't make it home, JJ's parents went out to look for him and found the crash site.

"He was drunk but he waited 16 hours before he turned himself in." In the criminal complaint, Peterson claimed that he did not know he had hit a person and thought it was a deer. He said he was distracted with the phone charger when the incident happened. When he got home, Peterson told his wife about the incident and they called police the next day when they heard someone had been killed.

"We have to forgive him someday but we have so much hate in our hearts right now but it's not going to be today and it's not going to be in the near future," said Jack Hutcheson, father of the victim.

Peterson's next court date is set for later this month. In the meantime, a GoFundMe account has been set up to help with funeral expenses for JJ Hutcheson.