COLUMBIA, S.C. — Friends and family from the community were joined by tow truck drivers from all over the state to honor tow truck driver Steven Hughes, the 46-year-old who was killed while repossessing a car last week.
Over 30 trucks traveled in the procession from Lexington to his gravesite-only service in Columbia.
Hughes' co-worker Derrick Armstrong said tow truck processions are a way for those in the industry to honor each other.
"We are a family, we do this. Anytime somebody dies in the tow family we do this. It’s nice for everyone to get together like this," says Armstrong.
Hughes was outspoken, funny, and loved his job, says friend Michelle Chandler.
"He was loud and obnoxious but good at the same time," says Chandler. "I think he would absolutely love the fact that all the trucks showed up."
Chandler worked in the towing industry for years and said she hopes the attention will raise awareness of how dangerous it is for tow truck drivers.
"They’re all out there facing dangerous situations every day. When you lose somebody in that situation it makes them really stand up and pay attention," Chandler says.
Hughes was also well known as the administrator of a community Facebook page with over 46,000 followers.
Siblings 20-year-old Raheem Jackson and 19-year-old Essence Jackson have been charged with murder in connection to the shooting. Hughes was repossessing a car at a home on Fairmont Drive.
According to the Richland County Sheriff's Department, the car did not belong to either of the two charged with murder.
The sheriff's department has declined to release an incident report or an arrest warrant for either sibling, citing the ongoing investigation.
Raheem Jackson's bond hearing is on Thursday, and no further information has been given on Essence Jackson's bond hearing.