ARREST MADE IN HIT AND RUN
Boy's parents ` happy,' pastor says
An arrest was made Friday in the hit-and-run death of seven-yearold Kuothhorko (Kuzi) James, after almost two weeks of anguish for his family as police searched for the person behind the wheel.
Investigators announced late in the day that a male suspect was arrested and taken into custody, and that a number of criminal charges are expected.
They didn't identify him, but said they expect to provide more information in the coming days.
Windsor police said in a media release they are satisfied that a 2006 Dodge Caravan seized on Nov. 19, from a residence in the 2700 block of Chandler Road was the vehicle involved in the fatal hit-and-run in the area of Jefferson Boulevard and Haig Avenue on Nov. 15. After further investigation, they identified the male suspect as the person they believe was driving it.
Police told the victim's parents, James Riek and Rebecca Yat, of the arrest late in the day Friday, according to Alex Golovenko, their pastor at Seventh-day Adventist Church, who said he spoke to them on the phone a short time later.
“They are excited because that gives them closure, to know that a person has been caught,” said Golovenko. “They're happy that this is over, that this is not an enigma anymore, that justice will be done.”
He explained that they received the news shortly before sundown Friday, and that their Sabbath runs from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. “They were happy to have received the news before the day of rest, before the Sabbath,” he said. “That will allow them to rest even more on the Sabbath, knowing that God has administered justice already.”
He said the parents may have more to say after the Sabbath.
In the news release, police added that the investigation “remains extremely active.”
They're asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 519-255-6700, ext. 4830, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS), or online at catchcrooks.com.
A funeral was held for Kuzi last Saturday at the church.
The family — with five children — had been members at Windsor Seventh-day Adventist since they immigrated from South Sudan in 2008. In an interview with the Windsor Star earlier this week before the arrest was made, the parents expressed dismay over the driver fleeing the scene after their son, a pedestrian, was hit.
“We need to know why the person ran away. If it was not intentional, why are they running away, that is the question for us,” Riek said. “I hope God will bring justice to that person and he can or she can turn themself in to talk to us. We need to get the answer.
“We thank Windsor police for working hard to … find that person. We need to know. We need the answer. We need to know.”