Uncle Of Girl Killed In Hit-And-Run Urges Driver To Come Forward

BRONX, NY — Jose Ortiz wants the driver responsible for the hit-and-run that killed his niece, Jenna Perez, to turn themselves in.

Perez, 17, was crossing a street in Port Jefferson Station Saturday night when she was hit by a car which then drove off, police said.

"Whoever did this should come forward, step up and take accountability for what they’ve done to her and our family," Ortiz, 37, told Patch. "I can’t stress it enough: Anybody who has any information or saw anything, come forward and say what they know. We need justice for her."

Ortiz noted the compassion Perez and the rest of their family has always had towards stray animals they saw in the street, saying they would find a shelter or call someone for help. He compared it to the tragic situation his niece found herself in.

"Where was the decency at? They just left her there worse than an animal, and that’s not okay. We want justice for that."

Ortiz said he met with the Suffolk County detectives working the case, who told him they're working 24 hours on finding whoever killed Perez. He said he's grateful for the work the police are doing, though he's also praying the driver steps forward so the family can have closure and peace of mind.

"I get it, you’re scared, and you don’t want to get in trouble," Ortiz said. "But there’s a thing called karma, and sooner or later, it’s going to come back. To avoid that bad karma, come forward and take accountability. God is all-forgiving. He forgives everyone for their sins, and this was a sin."

Ortiz was born and raised in the Bronx, same as Jenna and her twin sister, Janell. The girls were raised by their grandmother before she passed. After a brief stint living with one of their aunts, the girls were both taken in by a foster parent on Long Island about two years ago.

Ortiz had a tight-knit relationship with his niece. They both loved animals and the color green, and discussed topics ranging from education, how to help others and being polite, courteous and compassionate. One of their biggest shared interests was food. Ortiz said he and Perez commonly discussed recipes, different things they wanted to try, what confectioneries to bake together and plans for their next picnic.

"We had a beautiful relationship," he said.

One of the things Ortiz loved most about his niece was her knack for photography, where she would take pictures of anything that captured her attention: dogs, art, flowers, butterflies.

"She was the SnapChat Queen. She loved taking photos and sharing them. Even as she was walking out the door, she would grab that phone, start recording, let people know how her day was going, where she was headed and what she was doing."

Ortiz wants to stress the fact that both Jenna and her sister are beloved and well cared for.

"We were planning on college and stuff like that for her," he said. "To be planning her funeral now is so difficult and tragic."

Ortiz started a GoFundMe called "Justice For Jenna Perez," and all funds will go towards funeral and memorial arrangements for his niece. An additional fundraiser was set up by Emily Keuler titled "In Memory of Jenna Perez," with funds going to her sister, Janell, towards a proper burial and money for financial loss she'll sustain during the mourning process.