MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) - Family and friends gathered Saturday night for a candlelight vigil for a man who was run over last weekend.
Mobile Police say 21-year-old Zach Soutullo was involved in a verbal dispute in Downtown Mobile with a group of men in an SUV. Investigators said the driver ran over Soutullo, and drove off.
Soutullo was last listed in serious condition at USA Medical Center. Ashton Boykin was charged with first degree assault in the case.
Soutullo's Aunt Rachel Sheppard said her nephew suffered serious head injuries in the incident, and though his prognosis is unknown he is showing signs of improvement.
"He did recognize some of his close family members and seemed like he was real happy, but confused," Sheppard said. "To us he's looking better, and I think he's made some progress. Not a lot, but he has made some progress to us."
Dozen of friends and family braved the frigid temperatures outside of USA Medical Center to light candles and pray for Soutullo. Among them was his best friend Kyle Denton.
"Broke my heart," Denton said. "I couldn't really look at him. There was nothing I cared to look at. I just went in there, talked to him, and I hoped and prayed that he could hear me. Maybe just give me some type of sign that he was still there. Shake my hand, anything."
Denton and other of Soutullo's close friends have stayed at the hospital for several days.
"The best friend a guy could ask for and the best older brother a girl could ask for," Britt Davis said, "and knowing something happened to him was like my worst nightmare."
