Suspect Surrenders In Hit-And-Run That Killed 4-Year-Old Boy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect surrendered Saturday afternoon in a hit-and-run crash that left a 4-year-old boy dead, and his mother and older sister injured, on Staten Island.
John Sanjurjo, 33, was being held at the 122nd Police Precinct as of mid-Saturday afternoon, police told 1010 WINS. He was charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a serious injury.
The crash happened near Diddle Dee Bagel and Deli at 1334 Richmond Rd., in the Old Towne section of Staten Island.
Kyrillos Gendy, 4, of South Amboy, N.J., was crossing the street with his mother and sister when they were hit by a black Mercedes sedan with tinted windows, police said.
Hit-And-Run Driver Kills 4-Year-Old Boy, Injures Woman, Young Girl
The driver had was pulling out of the bagel shop parking to head south on Richmond Road lot when he hit the family, police said. He pulled over and got out of his car to see the woman and children on the ground, and hopped right back into the car and drove off, police said.
"The Mercedes stopped. Everybody was yelling at him. He knew what he did. He pulled out of the parking lot of the deli where I am standing right now and he ran the child over," said witness Thomas Thanasoulis. "He has no regard for life if he could leave a little child laying in the street after he ran him over and just drove away. He has no conscience."
Kyrillos was pronounced dead at Staten Island University Hospital. His 34-year-old mother – identified by the family as Arini Thomas – and 7-year-old sister – identified as Gabriella Gendy – were hospitalized with minor injuries.
Following the accident, Kyrillos' sister and mother lay in the hospital unable to absorb what happened, 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reported. The boy's uncle, Magdy, described them as catatonic, as if they were in a coma.
"He's done. He's done. He can't make it. He's dead already," Magdy Gendy said. "It's so sad. I can't talk anymore."
Family members tried to ease the pain of the grief stricken mother and young girl, CBS 2's Steve Langford reported.
"The mother is in a phase of denial right now. She has no words. We tried, we brought in a psychiatrist to try to come speak with her," Adam Gedny said.
As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported, Amanda Gendy – Kyrillos' cousin – said Saturday that the crash was the family's worst nightmare.
"He hit all three of them," she said. "I guess he didn't see."
Gendy recalled the tragic images of seeing her 4-year-old cousin run down by the hit-and-run driver.
Hit-And-Run Driver Kills 4-Year-Old Boy, Injures Woman, Young Girl
"I ran outside of the house and he was lying there on the floor in his blood," she said.
The children were visiting their uncle and cousin before the crash.
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