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15-Year-Old Boy Killed in Hit and Run Was ‘Sweet Kid'

Friends on Tuesday remained in shock over the death of a 15-year-old who was waiting for a ride home when he was struck and killed Sunday night by a hit-and-run driver.

They are still trying to make sense of the tragic death of their friend, Jack Phoenix.

"He loved martial arts and loved hanging out with us," said Jaylen Tucker, a friend. "That was his favorite thing to do. He was a sweet kid. He didn't deserve to die."

Henry Salke, another friend, said he loved his friends and art.

"He was a really good artist and really smart and creative," Salke said.

Yjun Moon said he was like an older brother.

"He was only 15."

Jack was killed as he was standing at Venice Boulevard and Hughes Avenue in Palms, waiting for a ride home, when a 2001 maroon Buick LeSabre struck him.

The car was reported stolen last week and the driver sped up when he realized he was being followed by police, officials said. After hitting Jack, the driver kept going.

On Tuesday some of Jack's friends wore artwork created by him.

Kevin Moon said he'll always be grateful to Jack for befriending him when he moved to the U.S. with limited English skills.

"When I was struggling with my language barrier, he came up to me and helped me out and he was artistic and a smart boy," Moon said.

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