In a tragic turn of events, 13-year-old Elias "Eli" Bizzle has succumbed to his injuries after being struck in a hit-and-run incident in Glendale. According to ABC15, Eli was hit by a car while riding his bicycle on the evening of April 11 near 47th and Northern avenues, and died on April 23 after fighting for his life in the hospital.

The driver responsible for the collision, 27-year-old Joshua Holbert, had originally fled the scene, leaving a devastated community and a family grappling with an unthinkable loss. A GoFundMe account was set up by the family to handle the medical and other expenses arising from the tragedy. "This person who hit him messed him up and all he did was cross the street," Eli's family lamented in an interview obtained by ABC15.

Glendale Police arrested Holbert after traffic cameras and surveillance videos led them to his Chevrolet Trailblazer, which had been tampered with to obscure the evidence of the crime. According to court documents cited by Arizona’s Family, the American flag that was attached to his vehicle at the time of the crash had been removed. Holbert, who turned himself in, now faces multiple charges including, accident involving death or serious injury and failure to stop.

While in the hospital, the community rallied around Eli, donning his favorite color red and gathering near the crash site as a show of support. His aunt, Tracy Cortez, expressed to ABC15 the unified spirit of the community: “You’re not defeated, you’re not alone, you got a whole army praying for you.” Eli's mother, Victoria, conveyed her agony to Arizona’s Family, saying, “It is pure torture to see your 13-year-old laying so helpless, and you can’t do nothing about it. You can’t do anything about it, just pray.”

The loss of Eli Bizzle has left an indelible mark on his family and community, magnified by the senselessness of the act that took his young life. As the family mourns, the driver behind bars now awaits his day in court.