The city of Chicago is grappling with a tragic event after a 9-year-old boy was fatally struck by a vehicle while on his way to school. Anakin Perez, a fourth-grader at Ronald E. McNair Elementary School, was tragically killed in the incident, which occurred around 7:40 a.m. Thursday, near the 4800 block of West Walton. NBC Chicago reports that despite initially being taken into custody, the woman driver involved was released without charges by police, sparking a call for justice from grieving family members.
A memorial site has now sprung up at the location where Anakin was hit, with footballs, balloons, and candles left to commemorate the young boy's life. "He was very loved. He loved everyone, he was a kid full of joy," Anakin's aunt conveyed in a press conference, a sentiment echoed by the boy's mother, Alejandra Gallegos, who told WGN News, “He was just amazing, loving. His sister would joke around and say he’s a momma’s boy, but he really was.” Meanwhile, the same aunt asserted they are seeking more than a mere traffic citation for the driver, implying, "He was worth more than just a ticket, or two, or three."
Surveillance video of the incident captured the moment Anakin was struck, although the media outlets have refrained from broadcasting the graphic footage. His grandmother, Valeria Fernandez, distressed by the tragedy, told WGN News: "In the video, it shows he was going to cross the street to say wait, stop, and she still went and she dragged him. She dragged him." Chicago Public Schools released a statement expressing profound sorrow at the loss of the student, assuring that grief counselors and a crisis team were dispatched to support those affected at the school.
Locals in the area have raised longstanding concerns about the traffic safety near Ronald McNair Elementary School. Ardani Granillo, a resident, revealed to NBC Chicago an ongoing issue with dangerous driving in the vicinity, “I see a lot of people not listening to traffic, going against traffic, all the time," she said. "I have three vehicles, all three of them got hit here.” The family of Anakin, still in the grips of mourning, emphasizes the need for actionable justice, with his aunt Anna Perez stating to WGN News, “A ticket or two or three? You get to pay those tickets. We don’t get to get him back at all.” The Chicago Police Department has reiterated the investigation is ongoing and no further details regarding charges have yet been disclosed.
