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'That child deserves justice': No arrests yet after hit-and-run crash that killed 7-year-old boy in Cleveland last week

Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek is pleading for someone to come forward with information on the driver, as the community mourns Amir Prewitt's death.

CLEVELAND — Friday marked one week since 7-year-old Amir Prewitt was hit and killed while on his skateboard in a Cleveland neighborhood and one city councilman is pleading for the public to come forward with information on the driver.

“This has weighed heavily on me since Friday,” Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek said.

The boy remembered for his smile was on his skateboard when he was hit and killed at the Lakeshore Beach Apartment Complex. Seven days later, police have not released any information on who was behind the wheel.

“Somebody knows who was driving that vehicle,” Polensek said. “I appeal to the citizens. The people in the lakeshore beach complex. They know who was driving that car. They know who this individual is and this no-snitch, this don’t-say-anything mentality that exists in our city is outrageous.”

Earlier this week, the community gathered to remember Amir. His mother was frustrated then about the lack of answers.

“I don’t know who did this, the killer could be amongst me right now, and I wouldn’t know because nobody wants to speak up,” she said then.

On Wednesday, Cleveland police released pictures of a “person of interest” in the case. Polensek said residents have reached out to him with information that he’s passed on to police.

Credit: Cleveland Division of Police
Person of interest.

“That child deserves justice. He didn’t have to die. He didn’t have to—and be dragged under the car? Outrageous,” he said.

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Amir was a student at St Thomas Aquinas in Cleveland. The school posted a tribute, writing:

“When our joy is so big it radiates through us, when we catch ourselves being silly without inhibition, when we smile so hard it hurts, it’ll be because Amir showed us how. We’ll miss you so much but will never forget you.”

3News reached out to the Cleveland Division of Police on Friday. A spokesperson said there was no update in the investigation.

“They killed the wrong child, in the wrong neighborhood with the wrong councilman. I can tell you that right now. We’re not resting until an arrest is made,” Polensek said.

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