Atlanta

Police release surveillance video in hit-and-run that left 9-year-old boy dead

ATLANTA — Police are releasing images of the truck they say is responsible for hitting and killing a 9-year-old boy earlier this week.

Investigators say Jamal Dean was hit by a red Ford F-150 near the Rosel Fann Recreation Center on Cleveland Ave on Tuesday night. They are still looking for the driver of that truck.

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Jamal’s father told Channel 2′s Tom Jones that Jamal and his mother were on their way to sign him up for a weekend basketball tournament.

Christopher Dean said Jamal was so excited that he jumped out of the car and tried to cross the street. That’s when witnesses said a Ford truck hit him and kept going.

“His mom said he jumped out the car, and she was like, ‘Hold on son.’’ But as soon as he stepped out, a car came out, swerved and hit him. My son,” Dean said. “He was such a happy, happy child.”

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Latoiya Brooks, Jamal’s mother, told Jones that she saw the car coming, but couldn’t react fast enough to stop it.

“I saw it, his headlights, but I couldn’t get out fast enough,” Brooks said. “I couldn’t save him. He hit my baby. He left him.”

Police describe the suspect as a Black man with fair complexion, full facial hair and gold teeth.

Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta are offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment.

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