OXFORD, Miss — Oxford Police have formally charged a Collierville teen in connection with a deadly hit-and-run that left one Ole Miss student dead and another seriously injured over the weekend.
OPD said Tristan Holland, 18, was formally charged Thursday with accessory after the fact. His bond was set at $25,000.
OPD said Seth Rokitka, 24 - who was charged Monday - and Holland, both of Collierville, Tennessee, were identified as suspects in the killing of Ole Miss student Walker Fielder and the injury of another student, identified as Blanche Williamson by the university. Rokitka is believed to be the driver of the Toyota pickup truck involved in the hit-and-run.
Suspects charged
Oxford Police said 24-year-old Seth Rokitka of Collierville, Tennessee, was arrested Monday morning after crashing his truck in Marshall County, Mississippi.
Rokitka is charged with one count of manslaughter, one count of aggravated DUI, one count of duties of driver involved in accident resulting in death, and one count of duties of driver involved in accident resulting in personal injury. (The last two charges are also known as leaving the scene of an accident involving death/personal injury.)
OPD said Rokitka was taken before a Justice Court Judge for his initial appearance and given a bond of $1,000,000.
OPD said Holland was arrested in Shelby County and extradited back to Oxford. He was formally charged Thursday with accessory after the fact with a bond of $25,000.
Oxford Police want to "dispel rumors"
In a statement, Oxford police said they wanted to "dispel rumors" about the incident, saying the victims and the suspects were at separate establishments the entire night and did not cross paths before the hit-and-run. Investigators said they had no prior interactions before the incident. OPD also said, "Rokitka and Holland did not render aid or call 911 even though they knew what they had just done."
"We can't express enough thanks and gratitude to the community, business owners, and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on their assistance," Oxford Police said in a statement after Rokitka's arrest.
Ole Miss leaders identify victims
In a message to the University family Monday, Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce identified the victims as Walker Fielder - who was killed - and Blanche Williamson, who was injured.
"To members of the university community,
What had been a beautiful fall Saturday in Oxford ended with a horrendous event that took the life of one of our students. Walker Fielder, a junior from Madison, Mississippi, was killed and another student, Blanche Williamson, a sophomore from Raleigh, North Carolina, was seriously injured after they were struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run just off the Square. It is a painful and distressing development for our campus community, and it is understandable that emotions are high with many unanswered questions about what happened.
Please join me in offering heartfelt condolences to Walker’s family, friends, classmates, and others. Walker was a leader in the Sigma Chi fraternity, and a widely liked member of our campus community. While there are no words that can alleviate the deep sorrow that his friends and family are experiencing, please keep them close in your thoughts and prayers during this time of immense grief.
In addition, please pray that Blanche continues to heal and recovers fully. She needs our support, love, and care.
I am grateful to the Oxford Police Department for its swift response. They are working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate this case vigorously, and two suspects who are not affiliated with our university are now in custody. Our community can help investigators by avoiding public speculation about what happened or why, and share relevant information if you have it. If you have any information that can help, please contact the Oxford Police Department at 662-232-2400, the University Police Department at 662-915-7234, or CrimeStoppers at 662-234-8799. Since this matter is an ongoing investigation, OPD will share updates with the public as they are able.
We are a tight-knit and welcoming campus and community, which is what makes this act so jarring for us. I urge anyone in need of support to reach out to those around them, or to seek assistance from one of the following university support services:
Walker Fielder's family issues statement
A spokesperson for Walker Fielder's family sent the following statement to ABC24: "Walker was an outstanding young man who was a leader in his fraternity at Ole Miss. He represented all that the men of Sigma Chi aspire to be. He was loyal, considerate, and loved by all his brothers, staff, and alumni who had the good fortune to know him. His legacy will live on with the exceptional pledge class he helped create as Rush Chairman this past year. Walker was a 2020 graduate of Jackson Academy. He and his family are active members of Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson MS. As Walker’s high school Disciple Group Leader, I had the privilege to walk along side him in his faith journey from 6th thru 12th grade. Walker took his faith seriously and he truly valued the time he spent with family and friends. At this time, we ask that you join us in offering condolences to Walker’s family, friends, classmates, and all those who knew and loved him."
The initial hit-and-run and investigation
The two victims were found injured in the parking lot behind Oxford City Hall after a 911 call was placed near 1:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, according to the Oxford Police Department (OPD).
Both victims were transported to the Baptist Memorial Hospital in North Mississippi. Williamson was eventually transferred to Regional One with critical injuries.
OPD also released images of the vehicle and suspects in question they said were related to this incident:
Mayor of Oxford Robyn Tannehill made a statement on social media about this tragic event and the investigation following.
"I am writing to you tonight as a Mother with a broken heart for these families, for their precious friends, for their sorority sisters and fraternity brothers, for their hometowns, and for our community as we all weather another terrible storm," she said.