Bell police identified a person of interest Monday in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a teen skateboarder over the weekend.
Charles Garcia, 36, was identified by the Bell Police Department as a person of interest in the case. Police said Garcia, who also goes by the name Chuck, has a criminal history that includes at least one DUI.
Joshua Maldonado, 17, was riding his skateboard about 11:20 p.m. Saturday near the 200 block of Gage Avenue, just four blocks from his home, when he was struck by a silver 2002 Mitsubishi Galant, police said.
"You can hide, but they're going to find you," said Maldonado's grief-stricken father, Silverio Soto. "You have a family, you have sons. You don't want that (to) happen to them, so turn in."
The driver fled the scene but police say surveillance video captured the moment of impact.
Witnesses believe the driver was aware they hit the boy because they stopped for a short moment at the scene and then fled.
Soto said the driver could have possibly saved Maldonado's life if the driver had stopped after hitting him.
Maldonado's 18-year-old brother, Chris Maldonado, said he couldn't believe it when he got the call that his brother had been killed.
"We just want some closure, we want to find out who was responsible for this," he said.
Maldonado had started his senior year at Bell High School, had a job interview lined up and dreamed of one day being a dentist, his family said.
Friends and family held a vigil Sunday night at the spot where Maldonado died.
Grief counselors were available at Bell High School to provide services to students and staff.
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"You gotta help him, because that could be your little brother, your little cousin, or it could be anybody. It's kind of sad how they left and they just let him die," said classmate Adrian Manrique.
Police said they are still waiting for Garcia to come forward as a person of interest in the case, not a suspect. Police did not confirm if they found Garcia's car.
Family and friends planned to hold a vigil for Maldonado at 6 p.m. in front of Bell High School.
John Cádiz Klemack and Corey Arvin contributed to this report.
