Cajuan Harris stepped away from a Halloween party to take a walk and get some air. He never made it back. The 27-year-old father of two was found with serious injuries in the road near South Gilbert Road and East Amanda Boulevard in Chandler shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Halloween, and he died at a hospital after what police describe as a hit-and-run.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Harris's father, Phil Harris, said he received a text from his son at about 7:39 p.m. on Halloween night and sent one back at 10:30 p.m. that went unanswered. He learned the next day that his son had died at around 10:22 p.m., just minutes before that final message was sent. “Everybody out here loved Cajuan,” Phil Harris said, according to the station's report.
Chandler police say Harris was struck by at least one vehicle that did not stop, and officers believe multiple vehicles may have hit him before some of the drivers left the scene without stopping, per the same account. A separate driver who was also involved stayed at the scene, cooperated with investigators and was cleared, according to ABC15. Officers who arrived found Harris seriously injured in the roadway before he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A Passerby Tried to Stop More Cars From Hitting Him
As Harris lay in the road, a passerby stopped and attempted to prevent additional collisions by waving at oncoming traffic from the median, fox10phoenix.com reported. The account underscores how chaotic the scene became in the moments after Harris was struck, with drivers continuing to approach the intersection as he lay injured.
Loved ones gathered this past Saturday to remember Harris, and the Harris family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral and memorial expenses, per the family's account relayed to FOX 10 Phoenix. The family is asking the public to come forward with any information about the crash, saying they want answers about how their son died and who was behind the wheel.
Police Still Searching for Drivers Involved
Chandler police have asked anyone with information to contact Detective Mike Whipple at 480-782-4943. The case remains open, and investigators have not said how many vehicles may have struck Harris or whether any suspects have been identified.
A separate Chandler pedestrian death near Chandler Fashion Center offers a glimpse of how such cases can be solved. In that case, witnesses told investigators a driver struck 55-year-old Alfred Canner outside a crosswalk and left the scene, according to ABC15's report on that incident. Police said witness statements and dash-camera footage ultimately helped them track down a suspect, and 80-year-old Milo Beck was booked into jail on charges related to leaving the scene of a deadly crash, the station noted.
No arrests have been announced in Harris's case as his family continues to wait for word from investigators. For now, they are left holding onto the last texts exchanged with their son on Halloween night, hoping someone who saw what happened near Gilbert Road and Amanda Boulevard will come forward.
