Family of young woman killed in Sherman Oaks hit-and-run pleads for driver to turn self in
SHERMAN OAKS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The search continued Monday for a hit-and-run driver who killed a young woman in Sherman Oaks this weekend.
It's a devastating loss for the family of 18-year-old Nysmuh Imann Taylor. They gathered Monday afternoon to comfort each other and remember the young woman who they say brought so much happiness to those around her.
"Nysbuh, not because she was my daughter, but she was the most precious amazing person you could ever meet," said Runyia Chehata, the victim's mother. "She used to make everybody laugh, even when she was sad. She made everybody happy."
"You took the most precious thing in my life away from me," said Chehata.
Authorities say Taylor was following her boyfriend across the street, when the driver of a maroon or possibly red sedan ran her over, made a U-turn to look at the body and sped off.
"I just want him to show his face so we can go to bed at night knowing who did this to her," said Chantal Javier, the victim's friend.
Monday afternoon, friends and former co-workers paid their respects at the scene of the accident, saying the 18-year-old was looking forward to a bright future.
"Everyone loved her," said Javier. "She had a big heart. Very, very positive person."
"It's heartbreaking," said Taline Gevorkian, the victim's former employer. "She came to me on Thursday. She was so excited to get a new job."
"She was supposed to start today her new job, and she was just having fun before she got serious about work," said Chehata.
Meantime, investigators are hoping a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect will prompt witnesses to come forward, if the suspect doesn't turn himself in.
"I just want to tell him if she was here, she would forgive you," said Chehata. "I know she's with God. She will forgive you; that's how she was. But just turn yourself in. Be brave."
