Family, friends come together to mourn young boy killed during Newark police chase
NEWARK (WABC) -- Family and friends came together Sunday in Newark to remember a young boy killed during a police chase.
Rahmere Tullis was standing near the intersection of 15th Avenue and South 7th Street in Newark when a car jumped the curb and hit the child when he was standing on the sidewalk with his mother.
22-year-old fugitive Troy Ruff's car crashed into a tree before hitting the toddler. He has since been charged with vehicular homicide.
"Without the police, our community would be lawless, but we don't need aggressive policing - we don't need innocent children losing their lives because of a chase," said Thomas Ellis.
There is an investigation into the crash taking place.
Ruff was arrested and is charged with aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and eluding the police, in addition to the charges stemming from the May incident.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka released a statement on the child's death:
"The City of Newark has suffered a tragic loss today, with the death of three-year-old Rahmere Tullis, who was apparently struck and killed by a car being driven by a wanted person being pursued by Newark police officers. The suspect failed to pull over, struck a car on 15th Avenue, and mounted a curb, killing young Rahmere, as he stood on the corner with his mother.
This tragedy touches us on so many levels and the loss of young Rahmere is felt in our homes, our neighborhoods, our communities and throughout Newark. The way in which his life was taken is not just a crime against the laws of the land but a crime against humanity.
This morning, I was speaking to high school students. The fact that this young child will never have the chance to sit in a high school assembly touches me as a father, an educator, and a member of this community. This child belonged to all of us and the City mourns with his family. All of Newark joins in grieving with and caring for the Tullis family in their hour of pain, now and in the future. "
