The family of a 49-year-old mother killed by a hit- and-run driver on Christmas night in Leimert Park pleaded Friday for the motorist to surrender, while police touted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the driver.
Gloria Eaton Breaux was struck around 9 p.m. Monday while crossing Crenshaw Boulevard at Coliseum Street. The motorist fled the scene without stopping, police said.
The suspect was driving a dark-colored vehicle, possibly a black Honda Civic or Nissan Altima that likely sustained some front-end damage. The city has a standing $50,000 reward offer for information leading to hit-and-run drivers.
Breaux’s 14-year-old son, Anthony, was with her when she was struck, but he was not injured. He and his mother had been at an area Denny’s restaurant, where they were celebrating his 14th birthday.
“She had problems with her leg,” the teen said. “She had diabetes also, and so, it was kind of hard for her to walk, and so basically, like, I’m sure she was kind of, like, limping a little bit, and so she kind of stopped, and that’s when the black car actually hit her.”
While Anthony was tending to his injured mother, a passerby stole his skateboard, which he had gotten for Christmas.
“I was focused on my mom the most, ’cause I was like, in awe and in shock and, like, I just did get a skateboard for Christmas, but my main priority was my mom,” he said.
Los Angeles Police Department officers raised money and gave Anthony a new skateboard, helmet and other gifts on Friday.
Anthony pleaded for the suspect to turn himself in.
“I do forgive you, but I just want you to, wherever you are, just turn yourself in,” he said.
Breaux’s mother-in-law, Michelle Jackson Brook, added, “I just want the community to reach out and help us in any kind of way to get justice for her and find the person who did this to her, because she did not deserve this.”
Anyone with information was asked to call the LAPD at (323)421-2500.
“We’re not going to stop until we find this person,” said LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno.
–City News Service