Police are investigating the death of a popular Spanish radio DJ who was killed in a hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Jean Guerrero, known as DJ Jinx Paul on Mega 97.9 FM, was crossing an intersection when he was hit by a car that has yet to be found. Checkey Beckford reports.
Police are investigating the death of a popular Spanish radio DJ who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Brooklyn.
Police say Jean Guerrero, known as DJ Jinx Paul on Mega 97.9 FM, was crossing the intersection of Sheffield and Jamaica avenues just after 4 a.m. Monday when he was struck by a vehicle.
A postal box was knocked over during the collision, video of the aftermath shows. A witness told NBC 4 New York the driver pulled over, briefly came out of her car and looked at Guerrero before getting back in the car and speeding off.
The 39-year-old Guerrero was pronounced dead at the scene.
The vehicle, described as a black Nissan sedan, fled the scene.
Mega 97.9 FM released a statement Monday night on Instagram calling Guerrero a "true warrior of the radio." They said the station will remember him as an "inescapable and hardworking companion."
Neighbors in Guerrero's Harlem apartment building were heartbroken to hear of his death.
"I know him for 30 years, he is very nice kid," said Washington Bayona. "So sorry for the family. Love him like my son."
At a vigil Tuesday night, hundreds of fellow DJs and and fans crowded the thin median where Guerrero died, lighting candles and crying as they mourned him.
"I think I was the last person he hugged," said DJ Carlito, who worked with Guerrero and had offered him a ride just minutes before he was killed.
Lucy Arbaiza traveled from the Bronx with her 6-year-old daughter to honor the man she called a friend.
"I thought I was dreaming. I couldn't believe it," she said, recalling how she spoke to him over social media and he invited her to come by the radio station before the new year to take a photo with her daughter.
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DJ Carlito is pleading for the driver to turn herself in and give Guerrero's parents closure.
"His mom is distraught, she's destroyed," he said. "Unfortunately they to come overseas to see their son this way."
"You just took away the most amazing person, not only from the DJ community, but also his 6-year-old son. You took him away from both his parents."
Anyone with information about the vehicle should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
