The most recent was in Playa del Rey on Dec. 29. Brigitte Burdine, 48, was struck while walking along Culver Boulevard early that morning. The driver sped away in a dark-colored sedan. Burdine, a well-known casting director of video games, died later at a hospital.
The other unsolved case involves the death of Razia Shariff, who was struck and killed while getting out of her car the night of Dec. 2 on Centinela Avenue near Nebraska Avenue. Authorities believe the suspect in that case was driving an older model Toyota Corolla.
In both cases, no one stopped to help the victims. Family members said they're grateful that the /*Los Angeles City Council*/ approved the reward money on Wednesday. They hope someone will come forward to help solve the cases.
"We've been given the opportunity to ask all of you who are hearing us, to look past maybe the screen that you see us on, and maybe feel the depth of the sadness that we are going through," said Tasmin Shamji, Shariff's niece.
"I believe that they hit them, they panicked, they didn't know what to do, and they just panicked and left. But we need some closure on this and we would like the person to turn themselves in. Come forward, take responsibility for it and then move on. Everybody can move on with their lives," said Michaele Burdine, Brigitte's uncle.
Anyone with information was urged to call the /*Los Angeles Police Department*/ at (213) 473-0234.
