LANCASTER COUNTY, Va. -- The special prosecutor appointed in the case against Rand Hooper -- a Richmond man accused of driving his boat while drunk, crashing it, and leaving his friend Graham McCormick to die -- has dismissed charges against Hooper.
Special prosecutor Matt Kite, who is the Commonwealth's Attorney in King William County, nolle prossed the charges against Hooper. That means he dismissed the charges -- for now -- but he can bring them back later if he chooses.
The charges include involuntary manslaughter and not stopping a boat after an accident that caused injury or death.
Kite has not responded to a request for comment to explain his reasoning.
McCormick's brother said he did not want to speculate on the special prosecutor's plan, but added he believed this was an opportunity for Kite to start from scratch.
"We fully support the decision of the prosecutor, and what they're doing," Gordon McCormick said. "Fully trust Matt Kite's decision and his judgment. I know we're in good hands."
This case has seen many twists and turns since the boat crash back in August 2017 on the Rappahannock River in Lancaster County.
The original prosecutor, Jan Smith, recently lost his bar license over his handling of the case.
