Missing Boy Killed in Hit-And-Run, Cops Say

The Tampa Police Department is on the hunt for a motorist its says struck and killed an 11-year-old boy Saturday morning.

The accident occurred sometime before 5 a.m. in the area of the Hillsborough Avenue bridge over the river. Police say an early to mid-2000s, possibly 2005 or 2006, metallic or gun metal Nissan Altima struck the child and fled the scene.

The child, identified as Alexander Torres, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Torres had been reported missing by his family around 5 p.m. Friday. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s reported the child was last seen leaving Davis Elementary School, 10907 Memorial Highway, on his bicycle around 2:45 p.m. Torres had been in a trouble at school that day and had received a reprimand over the phone from his mother, the sheriff’s office noted in an email to media.

Deputies searched for the boy late into Friday night, using K9s and the aviation unit. A reverse 911 call was placed.

Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477. A $3,000 reward is now being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Photo of Alexender Torres courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office