Public’s Help Sought in Fatal Anaheim Hit-Run

The family of an Anaheim high school student killed by a hit-and-run driver pleaded Monday for help in finding the person who struck the 16-year-old early Sunday.

“I want to plead to the community for someone to come forward, because this can happen to anybody,” said Latonya Kellum, sister of the victim, Jack Kellum.

Police said Jack was with a cousin and friend when he was struck by an apparently stolen black 2004 Cadillac Escalade as they crossed Harbor Boulevard at La Palma Avenue about 1:30 a.m. Witnesses said the boys were crossing against a red light.

“It doesn’t appear that the driver attempted to stop,” said Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim Police Department. “There was the possibility that he may have swerved to strike him or to avoid striking him.”

Kellum’s cousin, Ronald Rowden, said they had gotten off a bus after spending the evening at The Block at Orange.

“I turned around and I saw him switching from two or three lanes to hit Jack intentionally,” said Ronald, 15, of Sacramento. “I saw Jack in the air. After his body hits the ground, he swerves around Jack and keeps going.”

Jack died about 3 a.m. at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, police said.

Several witnesses said they followed the SUV but lost it. The vehicle was found abandoned Sunday morning in La Mirada. The registered owner told police it had been stolen, Martinez said.

Jack was the youngest of four children and the only son. He was described as a “computer geek” who made Web pages and personalized T-shirts. He was transferring to Valencia High School in Placentia from Anaheim High School to join the football team, said his mother, Leatrice Kellum, 52.

“I can’t believe some people can be so vicious, so callous,” she said. “It’s so unreal.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (714) 765-1861.