Man arrested in connection with fatal hit and run of deaf man in Jersey City, prosecutors say

Thursday, January 25, 2018
JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (WABC) -- A man was arrested in connection with the hit and run crash of a deaf man who was struck at a bus stop, prosecutors say.

The 19-year-old man was arrested late Thursday afternoon. Police say they are still searching for another suspect.
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The victim was hit Tuesday morning by an SUV being chased by sheriff's officers throughout Jersey City.

Students and friends of 33-year-old Umar King prayed and hugged Wednesday night, wiping away a fountain of tears.

"I cried a lot yesterday, I'm trying my hardest not to cry cause I wanna be strong for my mother," said the victim's brother Raheem King, who watched from the side. "And I just don't know how to feel right now cause I lost a brother, my only brother."

King was a fixture of the Jersey City deaf community who taught sign language when he wasn't working for FedEx.
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Just before dawn Tuesday as he waited for the bus, a sheriff's deputy was chasing a stolen SUV which lost control, jumped the curb and slammed into him.



"He was a church-going person who had a big heart," said a friend. "He was a great person and when he loved, he loved a lot. He was such a happy person who brought smiles to everybody."

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