CHICAGO (WLS) — Dozens surround a grieving family and their calls for justice Friday after Chicago police released the driver who hit and killed a 9-year-old boy without charges.
New video showed when it happened, seconds after he left out for school Thursday on the city’s West Side.
The incident took place at about 7:41 a.m. Thursday near Ronald E. McNair Elementary School in the 4800 block of West Walton Street, Chicago police said.
A family’s plea in traffic resonated Friday in front of McNair Elementary School, where one of its students, 9-year-old Anakin Perez, left home for school but never made it to class.
“It’s only going to grow bigger, because Anakin was bigger than just a few tickets,” aunt Anna Perez said.
“To have his life ended so tragically, it’s a pain unimaginable,” mother Alejandra Gallegos said.
Home security video showed the boy leaving the house Thursday morning, and as he heads out into the middle of Walton Street, a gray-colored car was already in movement. Then came the deadly impact.
“So you mean to tell me you didn’t have three seconds to stop your car immediately?” Gallegos said. “You didn’t feel the hit? You didn’t feel you dragging his body 72 feet down the street?”
Initially, the driver was taken into custody with charges pending, according to Chicago police. But later, police confirmed to ABC7 the woman was ticketed but not criminally charged.
“They called it an accidental death,” Gallegos said. “Any person with common sense coming down the street is going to look both ways especially in a school zone where there’s kids.”
Balloons and heartfelt messages now decorate the spot where Anakin was hit, right in front of his family’s home that he never returned to.
“He would never leave my side, but my son was taken from me,” Gallegos said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Anakin’s family.
McNair Elementary’s principal said grief counselors were at the school for students and staff.
Chicago police said they’re still investigating the crash.
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