On a quiet West Side block where kids stream into Ronald E. McNair Elementary each morning, a small memorial now marks the spot where 9-year-old Anakin Perez was killed on his way to class. His family says they are still waiting for answers – and real accountability – after the driver who struck him received only a traffic citation and no criminal charges.
The crash happened just after 7:40 a.m. on Sept. 18 in the 4800 block of West Walton Street, outside McNair Elementary, officials and relatives said. According to ABC7 Chicago, Anakin was taken to Stroger Hospital and later pronounced dead. School staff and counselors were brought in to support classmates and teachers reeling from the loss.
Neighbors and witnesses told reporters that home security cameras captured the moment Anakin stepped into the street and was hit, and that people ran toward the boy to try to help. NBC Chicago reported that the driver initially left the scene, then returned about 30 minutes later, as a roadside memorial quickly grew. Family members say the video and eyewitness accounts raise serious questions about how the crash was investigated and why more serious charges were not filed.
Family Points To Driver’s Record
In an investigation published this week, FOX 32 Chicago reported that the driver has a history of traffic violations and an active DUI-related case that includes allegations of reckless driving, improper lane changes, and an open container. The family’s attorney told FOX 32 that police had enough grounds to hold the driver longer or seek a warrant for a blood draw after the driver refused sobriety testing…