Community calls for justice after 9-year-old Anakin Perez hit, killed by car outside McNair Elementary School on Walton Street
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — On Friday, a grieving family, supported by many, demanded justice after the release of a driver who fatally hit a 9-year-old boy, with no charges filed by Chicago police.

New video showed when it happened, seconds after he left out for school Thursday on the city’s West Side.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The tragic event occurred around 7:41 a.m. on Thursday near Ronald E. McNair Elementary School, located on the 4800 block of West Walton Street, according to Chicago police reports.

On Friday, the family’s cries echoed around McNair Elementary School for 9-year-old Anakin Perez, who set off for school that morning but never reached his destination.

“It’s only going to grow bigger, because Anakin was bigger than just a few tickets,” aunt Anna Perez said.

“To have his life ended so tragically, it’s a pain unimaginable,” mother Alejandra Gallegos said.

Home surveillance footage captured the boy leaving his home on Thursday morning. As he ventured into the center of Walton Street, a gray car, already in motion, struck him fatally.

“So you mean to tell me you didn’t have three seconds to stop your car immediately?” questioned Gallegos. “You didn’t feel when you hit him? You didn’t notice you were dragging his body 72 feet down the street?”

Initially, the driver was detained with impending charges, said Chicago police. However, the police later informed ABC7 that while the woman received a ticket, she faced no criminal charges.

“They called it an accidental death,” Gallegos said. “Any person with common sense coming down the street is going to look both ways especially in a school zone where there’s kids.”

Balloons and heartfelt messages now decorate the spot where Anakin was hit, right in front of his family’s home that he never returned to.

“He would never leave my side, but my son was taken from me,” Gallegos said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Anakin’s family.

McNair Elementary’s principal said grief counselors were at the school for students and staff.

Chicago police said they’re still investigating the crash.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
UFO-like ‘drones’ targeted police helicopter over air base before vanishing: report

Unidentified Drones Mysteriously Target Police Helicopter Over Air Base: An Unsolved Aerial Intrusion

Recently disclosed police records and video evidence challenge the official narrative regarding…
Shooting at North Carolina Christmas tree lighting leaves 4 people wounded

Tragic Holiday Event: North Carolina Christmas Tree Lighting Marred by Shooting, Injuring Four

A Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Concord, North Carolina, was marred by…
Homeless Queens subway slasher confesses to attacking strangers: ‘Yeah, that’s me’

Queens Subway Slasher Confession: ‘Yeah, That’s Me’ – Shocking Details Unveiled

A homeless man, reportedly suffering from mental illness, openly confessed to a…
Tatiana Schlossberg, JFK’s granddaughter, reveals she only has a year to live

Tatiana Schlossberg, Granddaughter of JFK, Discloses Terminal Diagnosis with One Year Prognosis

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of John F. Kennedy Jr., shared on Saturday…
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she is resigning from Congress in January

Breaking News: Marjorie Taylor Greene Announces Surprise Resignation from Congress in January

WASHINGTON — Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch ally of…
Anna Kepner dies mysteriously during family vacation on Carnival cruise ship: Timeline of events

Unraveling the Mystery: The Tragic Death of Anna Kepner on a Carnival Cruise – A Detailed Timeline

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The sudden death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a promising…
Philippine police deployed to arrest 18 suspects in a corruption scandal that has sparked outrage

Philippine Authorities Move to Arrest 18 in Major Corruption Scandal Stirring Public Outcry

By JIM GOMEZ MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A significant crackdown on corruption…
Second Lady Usha Vance Smacks Down Marriage Rumors With the Perfect Response

Second Lady Usha Vance Addresses Marriage Rumors with a Poised Response

The rumor mill went into overdrive recently when Second Lady Usha Vance…
Carnival Cruise passenger who died onboard identified as high school cheerleader, FBI investigating

Florida Teen’s Cruise Ship Mystery Unraveled: Life Jackets Hold Clues to Possible Killer

Life jackets are designed to preserve life, yet in a tragic turn,…
FAA warns airlines about flying over Venezuela: 'Potentially hazardous situation'

FAA Alerts Airlines to Potential Hazards in Venezuelan Airspace

Trump renews pressure against Venezuela’s Maduro Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson and…
New Orleans not taking crime 'seriously enough,' says carjacking victim's daughter as federal operation looms

Daughter of Carjacking Victim Criticizes New Orleans’ Approach to Crime Amid Upcoming Federal Intervention

The daughter of a woman tragically killed in a 2018 carjacking in…
Two Texas men charged in plot to invade Haitian island and make women, children 'sex slaves': prosecutors

Texas Duo Accused of Plotting to Exploit Haitian Island Residents

Two men from Texas have been accused of plotting a violent takeover…