Ariel Russo.
Franklin Reyes, who is now 19, was sentenced to at least three years in prison on Friday for hitting and killing 4-year-old Ariel Russo on 97th street and Amsterdam Avenue in 2013. He had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Reyes was fleeing police in June 2013 when his SUV jumped the curb and hit the little girl and her grandmother. While awaiting trial, Reyes was also charged for another car crash in which police said he dragged an officer with his vehicle and for looting an apartment with his father.
At the sentencing, Russo’s parents urged Reyes to become a force for good, according to the Times. Sofia Russo, Ariel’s mom, has spoken out for safer streets as part of Families for Safe Streets.
“Why is it you get to be here, living, breathing, part of the world, when Ariel is not?” Ms. Russo asked, her voice quivering in the hushed courtroom. She said she hoped Mr. Reyes would contemplate his act in prison and speak out against reckless driving after he had finished his sentence.
“I believe that if you are still here, then you owe it to Ariel, who lost her precious life because of your choices, to make a difference and use this tragedy to save lives,” she said.
Mr. Reyes read a short apology, saying he would carry the pain of what he had done for the rest of his life. “I never wanted to hurt anybody,” he said. “I am extremely sorry.”
-hitting and killing 4-year-old Ariel
-fleeing police
-another car crash in which police said he dragged an officer
-looting an apartment with his father
To start with, 3 years isn’t enough time for killing a 4 year old. If he is/was convicted of the other crimes then that should be ‘at least’ 3 years + time for killing the 4 year old. I’m stunned.
I agree Lynn, but he was 16 at the time. Let us hope he learned his lesson. Another life lost to long term incarceration is also not going to bring that little girl back
The police should NEVER have engaged in a high-speed chase up Amsterdam Ave. at 8:30 am with so many people on the street. Someone was bound to get hurt. No mention is made of this, although plenty of people said so at the time.
I respectfully quibble, Rachel G. Sure, we’ve wll been young and had lessons to learn, but the life of an innocent child can’t be an acceptable price for learning a lesson.
Also I think his record since this tragedy doesn’t show a lot of learning. He burgled an apartment. !!!!
The police had STOPPED him. It wasn’t a random high speed chase. He made the decision to run from the police AGAIN after he was stopped and he killed a 4 year old girl. Another ‘life lost’ to incarceration? He still has a life!
Rachel G., #2:
No but it very well might prevent more victims being created by this apparent thug.
“Once an individual has served notice on society…”