A Georgia teenager accused of fatally running over his high school teacher during a toilet-paper prank has spoken publicly for the first time, expressing what his family calls “deepest sorrow” over the death of a man he considered a mentor.

Jayden Wallace, 18, a student at North Hall High School in Hall County, is charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass and littering in connection with the death of math teacher and golf coach Jason Hughes, 40, outside Hughes’ Gainesville home.

According to investigators, Wallace and four classmates drove to Hughes’ house as part of an annual “prank war” in which students rolled homes and yards with toilet paper. Teachers’ homes were considered prime targets and worth extra points under informal rules shared among students.

Hughes, aware of the tradition and expecting the prank, reportedly waited outside to catch the teens in the act. When the group arrived, he confronted them and then ran after their vehicle. Authorities say that in the rain-slicked street, Hughes slipped and fell into the path of Wallace’s pickup truck as the teen tried to drive away, and was run over.

The students immediately stopped and attempted first aid until emergency crews arrived. Hughes was rushed to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

In a statement released through his family, Wallace addressed the Hughes family and the wider school community, saying he intends to live in a way that reflects the values his teacher modeled.

“Jason Hughes meant the world to our son, Jayden. He took the time to invest in Jay and poured his love into him, making a lasting impact,” the Wallace family said. “Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family.”

Hughes’ widow, Laura, has publicly urged prosecutors to drop the most serious charges against the teens, arguing that her husband would not have wanted their lives destroyed over what she called a tragic accident linked to a long-standing school tradition.

Hall County’s district attorney has said he is reviewing the case and will give significant weight to the family’s wishes as he decides how to proceed.

Hughes leaves behind his wife and their two young sons. Community members have rallied around them, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the boys’ future education and honor the teacher’s legacy.