McKINNEY, Texas - The family of a McKinney 14-year-old who was killed in a hit-and-run crash while riding his bike is devastated, especially as the Christmas holiday nears.
The Backstory: On Saturday evening, 14-year-old Jamir Dabney was hit by a car while riding his bike near the intersection of Lake Forest Drive and Highlands Drive in McKinney.
Dabney died at the hospital.
The driver who hit him still hasn’t been caught.
McKinney hit-and-run crash kills 14-year-old pedestrian
McKinney police are looking for a driver who hit a 14-year-old pedestrian and then drove off.
What People Are Saying: Dabney’s brother, Jeremiah Dabney, said he didn’t believe his sister when she first told him about what happened.
"I told her to stop playing. But she said it again and again and again and I knew it was serious. I knew something happened," he said.
Now, he only wants to remember the good moments.
"He was such a lighthearted kid, such an energetic kid, just a bright kid," Jeremiah Dabney said.
Jamir Dabney
The family is struggling to process what happened, especially so close to the holidays and given the fact that so far, no arrests have been made.
"Because in all honesty, when you get ready to have the services and you bury your child and you still don’t have that closure, it’s hard," said Tamara Syas, Dabney’s aunt.
The Dabney family moved to McKinney from New Orleans in February.
All weekend, people have added to a growing memorial at the intersection where the crash happened. It gives the family comfort knowing how many lives he touched in such a short amount of time.
Memorial for McKinney 14-year-old killed in hit-and-run crash grows
A memorial continues to grow in McKinney where a 14-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Saturday. Meanwhile, police continue to look for the driver.
"That really helps us move through this process because it was really unexpected. Nobody expected this to happen," Jeremiah Dabney said.
And while he’s trying to remain strong for his family, the pain is hard to bear.
"This isn’t something that anybody should have to carry on their heart. I shouldn’t have to wear my brother’s face on a t-shirt, a chain. I shouldn’t have to get my brother tattooed or anything like that because he deserves to live out the rest of his life," he said.
What’s Next: McKinney police described the suspect’s vehicle as a dark-colored, four-door sedan that may now have front-end damage and possible damage to the front passenger mirror.
They said they are still analyzing evidence from the scene and security cameras to try to identify the suspect.
All the Dabney family wants for Christmas is for that person to do the right thing.
"Come forward. Reveal yourself. Stop being a coward," Syas said.
"If you have a heart, please, I’m begging. Please come forward so my family can get some type of closure. Please," Jeremiah Dabney said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the McKinney Police Department.