Community remembers Hunting Park teen killed in hit-and-run
PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) Heartbroken community members gathered Thursday night to remember the 18-year-old killed in a hit-and-run accident Wednesday night. Family, friends, and neighbors held hands tightly as they prayed during a memorial for the teen.
Family, friends and neighbors held hands tightly as they prayed near a memorial for 18-year-old Kevin Maldonado killed in a hit and run.
Surveillance video shows a white 2010 Prius coming down the street before hitting Kevin and taking off. It happened just before 8:30 Wednesday night on Old York Road. Police say the teen was getting into the a car when he was hit. It happened in front of Poppy and Son's Auto Body, the business owned by Mary Esquilin's father. She is Kevin's girlfriend.
"I just wanted to think it was all a dream and that when I woke up I had at least a message because I would always wake and see a good morning message from him. I wanted to see that but my mom told me it was true," said Mary who says she met Kevin at Edison High School. She says she was drawn to his magnetic personality.
"When anybody would feel down and he would come into the room his smile and the way he would just come at you. He would just make you laugh," she recalled.
People came and went all day to drop off cards and light candles. Mary's father says Kevin was hardworking and did odd jobs around his auto shop.
He and Mary vow never to forget Kevin.
"Beautiful guy, beautiful guy. He got all my respect," said Gregoreo Esquilin.
"He just left prints in my heart. That's somebody I'll never forget. He was always really special to me," said Mary.
Police found the car that hit Kevin ditched two blocks away on the 1300 block of West Pike Street. They are still looking for the driver.
READ MORE: Police identify teen killed in Hunting Park hit-and-run.