The family of a 14-year-old killed in a hit-and-run in McKinney is begging the driver who fled the scene of the crash to come forward and face justice.
Jamir Dabney was hit while riding his bike around 6:15 PM Saturday at the intersection of Lake Forest Drive and Highlands Drive.
A football player who was energetic as a firecracker: that was Jamir Dabney. He also played basketball, sang, and had a pesky side.
“Yeah, he would do little things that would annoy you and aggravate you, and you’d be like, ‘Jamir, go ahead now,’ but he—that’s just who he was," said his aunt, Tamara Syas.
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But Syas said he had a kind heart and a smile on his face.
“He was also a kid where if he got in trouble and he did something wrong, he would come back to you and apologize. He would tell you," she said.
Dabney was an Evans Middle School student whose loved ones said should still be here today.
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“This is my grandson, my Valentine’s Day baby,” said Jerrilyn Dabney, grandmother of the victim. “I’d like to know whoever did this to him, to leave him laying out here to die.”
On Saturday evening, Dabney was riding his bike home from playing basketball when police said a dark-colored four-door sedan crashed into him and didn’t stop.
Driving through moments later, Faithe Stallings saw Dabney lying in the road.
“Pulled over to stop and render aid and initiated CPR and we realized he didn’t have a pulse,” said Stallings.
Jamir Dabney died from his injuries at the hospital.
His older brother, Jeremiah, received the news at work. The family said they are still in shock.
“He deserved to live out the rest of his life. He deserved it. That’s not something that should’ve been taken away from him," Jeremiah said.
In the days after his death, the community created a memorial at the scene of the crash, with a constant stream of people coming out to place flowers, notes and other tributes.
“He didn’t deserve this, he was only 14, he still had a lot to live for and he just really didn’t deserve all this,” said Princeton resident Anali Mondragon.
Jeremiah said the outpouring of support from the community, including strangers, offers some comfort.
“It makes me happy. It brings me comfort in this situation because we have support from people we don’t know and that really helps us maneuver and move through the situation because this was really unexpected. Nobody expected this to happen," he said.
Loved ones say since the incident, Jamir Dabney’s mother Megan has been too shattered to speak and is extra cautious of her other four children.
"If they are quiet, she doesn’t hear them, she’s going to check on them because she needs to know where they’re at every moment," Syas said.
Her family has become her voice, calling on the suspect in this fatal crash to help their family start finding peace.
“Please come forward, if anybody’s seen something, say something,” said Jerrilyn Dabney. “Our lives are forever changed.”
As police went back to the scene Monday to search for more evidence and video of the incident, the family said they hope the driver sees their story and understands their pain.
"That you see the face of my 14-year-old brother. That you see his face, and you know exactly what you did. And I hope, I hope, that you don’t get any sleep," Jeremiah said. "You took one of ours, he was ours. That was my brother. He was somebody’s son, he was somebody’s grandson, he was somebody’s friend.”
"I hope, I hope, that you don’t get any sleep," Jeremiah said. "You took one of ours, he was ours. That was my brother. He was somebody’s son, he was somebody’s grandson, he was somebody’s friend.”
A fundraiser online has already raised over $50,000 for Jamir Dabney’s family to help with funeral arrangements.
"This is a devastating tragedy for the family and our community," said McKinney Police Chief Joe Ellenburg. "We extend our deepest condolences to the family and remain committed to finding the individual responsible for this terrible incident."
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the McKinney Crime Tip Line at 972-547-3480 or email crimetipline@mckinneytexas.org.
