Boy, 9, killed while riding bicycle in Gary hit-and-run

GARY, Ind. (WLS) -- A 9-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run crash while riding his bicycle in Gary Sunday night, police said.

Four children were riding bicycles on Broadway Avenue south of I-80/94 around 9:48 p.m. when one of them was hit. The boy has been identified to the Lake County (Ind.) Coroner's Office as Markese Jones of Gary. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

"My youngest brother Markese was in the front of everybody, and when the car passed them up he kind of swerved a little bit and hit Markese off the bike," said Tyisha Jones, Markese's sister.

Witnesses told police the boy was riding his bicycle when a Buick, possibly dark in color with tinted windows and black rims, was traveling north on Broadway and struck him. The Buick then continued on Broadway to the ramp to westbound I-80/94, police said.

Not aware of the incident, Markese's grandmother, Terlisa Jones, was at the same time driving his two sisters to get dinner when they came upon the scene of the horrific scene.

"They were with foster parents that should have been watching them. I couldn't get them because my house wasn't big enough," Terlisa said. "As I got up over the hill, I saw my oldest grandson running, howling, screaming."

At about 1:30 a.m. Monday, a Buick fitting the description was found on fire in the 2500-block of Clark Road, police said. Police have finished processing that vehicle for evidence, and are working to trace it back to its owner. It has not yet been determined if the burned Buick was involved in the hit-and-run or not.

"You kept going. You didn't try to get out of the car to look at my brother and what you did to him. Because he was only 9 years old, going into the 4th grade. He did not have to die," Tyisha said.

No one is in custody. Anyone with information is asked to call Gary police at 219-881-1209.