12-Year-Old Boy Killed In Hit-And-Run

12-Year-Old Boy Killed In Hit-And-Run

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Story Published: Dec 26, 2005 at 11:15 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 2:10 AM PDT

By Keith Eldridge

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TACOMA - Police are looking for the hit-and-run driver who killed 12-year-old Gerald Reed on Christmas Day in Tacoma. Two young cousins were out for a quick trip to the store, but Gerald never made it.

"And he was running, the car hit him and ran him over," said Gerald's sister, Kisha Richardson.

Kisha can only cry and hold the picture of her brother. She aches to give him a hug but that was taken from her by a hit and run driver.

"I can't believe people would do something stupid like that," Kisha said. "They should have seen him right there. They should have at least stopped and tried to help my brother."

It happened near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 34th around 6:45 p.m.. Gerald and his 14-year-old cousin were crossing the street, but not in the crosswalk 60 feet away. The cousin made it. Gerald did not.

A store security camera caught a glimpse of what police believe is the suspect car. But even in slow motion, the car is difficult to see. Witnesses could only say it was a light colored small to medium sized car.

Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said that the boys were not in a crosswalk and it was dark, so the driver of the car may not have been cited had they remained at the scene.

"The speed doesn't appear to be excessive, so unless there's some other contributing factors," he said.

The people who run the store where the boys were headed are furious.

"And then when l learned they didn't the find the person and they didn't even stop, then I was just angry," said clerk Jamie Belden. "That somebody would even do that and just keep going."

This is the second tragedy to hit this family in two weeks. One week ago Gerald's cousin, Joseph Dillion, was killed in a drive-by shooting. They had just buried him on Friday.

Kisha makes a plea in the Christmas Day hit-and-run: "Whomever hurt him, could you just turn yourself in? Do something please. This is my little brother."

Police say they have recovered pieces of the fleeing car at the scene and hope to have a better idea of the car's make and color soon. The car would have front-end damage -- possibly to the right-front corner.

In the meantime, if you have any information about the accident, or saw anything, you're asked to call Tacoma Police or you can leave an anonymous tip at Crimestoppers at 1-800-CRIME-13.

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