Family mourns son killed by hit and run driver; police still looking for suspect

The hit and run driver who killed a 19-year-old over the weekend is still on the loose as of Wednesday night. Police are asking for any information about the death of Joe Anthony Hernandez. He was killed Saturday At the intersection of Lomaland and Gateway West.

Joe’s family found out he had been killed two days after the crash. When police found him, he had no identification and was labeled a John Doe.

Wednesday evening, the Hernandez family stood on the spot where their son and cousin was killed.

“This is who he is, he was only 19,” said his cousin Erica Hernandez, while holding up his picture. “He wasn’t a father. He didn’t even have kids. He didn’t even get to make it, to graduate.”

The family me Joe was a student at Paso Del Norte. They hadn’t seen him for awhile, but heard he was staying with friends. Little did they know, they would never see him again.

“And I just don’t think it’s fair that he was just walking and this driver is still out there while my cousin is dead,” said Hernandez.

The family said police only have a couple clues, a nearby restaurant’s cameras caught Joe walking at 3:52 a.m., he was surrounded by other people. Police received the hit and run call at 4:12, paramedics arrived about 30 minutes later, and took him straight to the medical examiners office. He had been killed instantly. It appears the people he was with, fled the scene.

Detectives sat down with the family Monday, after Joe’s fingerprints identified him. They said 85 percent of case are solved, but for Joe’s cousins, his little brother and mom, the chance his case could end up as the 15 percent of cases that go cold, is a thought that won’t let them rest, or, allow them to put their son to rest.

“All I’m asking is for someone to please come forward with something. Because if it was your family we would stand by the same thing. Just please turn yourself in. He died. He was only 19. Have a heart. My cousin is no longer here you took him from us. Turn yourself in that’s all we want,”Hernandez said.

They were planning his graduation, now they’re planning his funeral, and they could use your help. If you would like to donate money to help them pay for Joe’s funeral expenses, they have a Wells Fargo account #1495355511. If sending a check, make it out to Joe Anthony Hernandez Donation Account. And if sending money from out of town, use routing number #112000066. The family can be reached at (915) 412-3251.