Suspect identified in fatal hit-and-run of Oakland mother, 6-year-old son
OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - People came to place flowers and candles at an intersection in East Oakland where a mother and son were killed in a crosswalk over the weekend as police on Monday identified the driver they say is responsible for striking them.
Alma Soraya Vasquez and her son, 6-year-old Angel Garcia were hit Saturday just before 7:30 p.m. by what police say was a black Mercedes. They were later pronounced dead at a hospital. Also injured was the boy’s uncle who was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
On Monday, Oakland police said they were looking for 27-year-old Rasenoch Allen in connection with the hit-and run. The police and Oakland Crime Stoppers were offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Witnesses said they saw what looked like his Mercedes driving away from the scene that left mother and son dead.
"I feel like I lost my family… part of my family,” said Anselmo Garcia, Angel’s father and Alma’s husband.
Angel was a kindergarten student at International Community School in East Oakland.
“(She was) super sweet,” said Johanna Masis, who works for a program at International Community School and had previously met Alama when she registered her older son in an aftercare program. “...got her signed up and yeah just very sweet and made sure she followed the rules.”
Oakland Unified School District released a statement on Sunday that reads: “International Community School is suffering through an unbelievable tragedy. A beloved kindergartener and his mother were killed by a hit and run driver on Saturday night. There was a tragedy in our ICS family last night. Our beloved kindergartener Angel Garcia-Vasquez, his mother Alma, and his uncle Jaime were victims of a hit and run on 26th and Foothill, a notoriously dangerous crosswalk that many of our families use to do laundry. Alma and Angel were both killed and the uncle is in critical condition. Our ICS community will be marching from school to the corner of 26th and Foothill at 3 p.m. on Thursday to demand a stoplight. Please join us and pray for their family. “
Less than 24 hours after the incident took place, dozens of people gathered on both sides of the intersection where Alma and Angel lost their lives.
Some people collected money for the family and there was no shortage of drivers willing to contribute.
A GoFundMe page was also set up to the family Sunday which is already just shy of his $15,000 goal.
Anyone with information about Rasenoch Allen is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department’s Traffic Investigation Unit at (510)777-8540 and or Crime Stoppers of Oakland at (510)777-8572.