The family of a 24-year-old Guinean immigrant, who was on his way to a Bronx mosque when he was fatally injured in a hit-and-run incident, is urging the driver to turn herself in.
Thierno Balde, who was cycling to the mosque to pray on February 23, was murdered by a Jeep Grand Cherokee, as reported by the New York Post.According to police, the tragic collision happened at Melrose Avenue and East 161st Street.
The incident was captured on surveillance tape, and the truck continued to travel after the tragic accident. The female driver’s automobile emits smoke as it comes to a stop before she leaves and walks away.
“I spoke with our mother this morning.” “She only wants justice,” Thierno’s brother, Mamadou Balde, told the news source. “She’s a person of faith and she believes in destiny,” he said.
“Imagine your son, 24 years old, going out to pray and then someone hits him — you can’t even explain that,” Mamadou Balde went on to say. “Place yourself in his mother’s shoes. Consider a 24-year-old boy attempting to fulfill his ambitions when someone comes along and smashes him before fleeing. “How would you feel?”
Thierno was transferred to a hospital and later confirmed dead, according to police.Authorities have yet to catch the motorist, according to the New York Post. “He has his bachelor’s [degree] in bank insurance that he got in Guinea,” Mamadou Balde said of his late brother.
“He moved here five months ago and was taking ESL classes to acquire the English language. Then he planned to pursue a profession in bank insurance or computer technology.
The victim’s relatives has asked the driver to turn herself in. “Put yourself in my mother’s shoes,” Mamadou Balde instructed. “Have a little bit of conscience.”