Essex County authorities are on the search for a suspect who mowed down a female pedestrian then drove away from the scene in Newark's South Ward last week.
The family of Ms. Shavelle Gilliam, 57, of Newark, are now pleading to the public for their assistance in locating the driver that struck the woman.
According to the family, police released to them little information on what occurred but authorities did say that during the overnight hours of Tuesday into Wednesday, December 4, emergency responders were notified of a woman down in the street on Clinton and Jelliff avenues.
When police and EMS arrived at the scene, they found Ms. Giliam severely injured and the vehicle that struck her, nowhere in sight.
EMS rushed Ms. Gilliam to University Hospital, where family members said she never gained consciousness and transitioned on Thursday.
"The left our mother, grandmother, aunt, and beloved West Ward community mom laying there like a dead animal and we are asking that the public help us locate the driver and bring him/her to justice," family members said.
According to family, they were notified by a friend -who surprised them on Wednesday- who asked if Ms. Gilliam was ok. The friend said Ms. Gilliam had been struck by a car and taken away in an ambulance.
Family members say they found Ms. Gilliam in University Hospital hours later brain dead.
As funeral arrangements were being made for Ms. Gilliam yesterday -Tuesday- the family said authorities stated they would check surveillance cameras in the area in an attempt to locate the driver.
The incident remains under investigation.