'He was left for dead': Army veteran dragged to death in Norco carjacking was on way to see family

Army veteran killed in California carjacking

FOX 11 spoke with the grieving daughter of the Army veteran dragged to death in a carjacking incident in Norco.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A Riverside County family is heartbroken after a 79-year-old U.S. Army veteran was dragged to death in a carjacking incident at a gas station-car wash in Norco.

Family speaks out 

What they're saying:

FOX 11 spoke with the daughter of James Norman, who died in Monday's horrific carjacking incident. Norman's daughter reveals her father was getting ready to meet his family for dinner that night as he was vacuuming his Chevrolet Trailblazer in the car wash area.

It was at the gas station-car wash area where he got caught in a carjacking situation that left him getting dragged on the road. Norman was believed to not have hearing aids on, so there was a possibility that he may not have been aware of what was going on, according to the 79-year-old veteran's daughter.

"It's a horrible feeling and I hope he went quickly just to think of him being dragged a quarter mile or so. Um, I know that street very well. It's where I grew up that he was just ejected from the car. He really was roadkill. He was just left for dead," his daughter said.

After Norman was found lying on the road, it is also believed that two bystanders stood over his body along Hidden Valley Parkway so the 79-year-old would not get hit by passing cars.

"I envisioned him laying as roadkill by himself, and it felt good that somebody was there with him in his last moments," his daughter said.

Suspect charged with murder 

What we know:

The suspect in the deadly incident, 29-year-old Ryan Hewitt, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and other offenses.

Along with murder, Hewitt is charged with hit-and-run causing death, elder abuse, carjacking, a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a carjacking and sentence-enhancing allegations of inflicting great bodily injury and causing injury or death during an act of elder abuse. He is being held on $1 million bail. 

He reportedly has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.