DETROIT – Those who knew him say 15-year-old Earsell Heard was the kid who made you laugh even when you were having your worst day.
That's why his family can't stomach knowing his killer is unaccounted for.
"All we're asking is that you come forward ... his siblings aren't sleeping. My family is hurt," said Heard's cousin, Rhonda Whitley.
Heard lived around the corner from where he was killed. He often crossed Greenfield Road to go to the store. He was well-known in the neighborhood and many neighbors are angry about what happened.
"And they just kept on going and shaking the car, shaking his body off, and just kept on going. That was pure murder," said Robin Clark.
Clark didn't see Heard get hit and dragged down the street, but she prayed for him by his side.
"I kept on saying, 'Just keep on breathing, son. Just keep on breathing.' But he was so hurt," she said.
Witnesses said a Detroit police car drove by but the officer did not stop, even as they tried to flag him down. Moreover, they say at least four people called 911 and never got through to a dispatcher. It wasn't until someone ran three blocks to the fire station when help finally arrived.
A spokesman for the Detroit Police Department said there was a high volume of calls at the time. However, at least one did get through and a police car was on scene within 9 minutes. The department spokesman said if a car just drove by, that's something they take very seriously and will look into it.
Witnesses did not get a great description of the vehicle and driver that hit Heard. They describe him as a black man standing about 6 feet 1 inch tall. He was driving a white or tan minivan. Neighbors believe the driver may work as a DJ in the area.
Anyone with information on this deadly hit-and-run needs to call Detroit police or Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAK-UP.