Hit-and-Run Leaves 21-Year-Old Dead, Police Searching for Driver

Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who killed a 21-year-old man in North Waukegan.

Adrien Gonzalez, 21, was walking with his uncle and a group of friends Sunday evening near Butrick Street and Tamera Court when a vehicle struck him and then quickly sped off.

“It was so hard,” Gonzalez’s uncle told NBC Chicago of the horrific memory he has from witnessing his nephew’s death. “He was choking on his blood. I just tried to help him breathe.”

Gonzalez, who worked as a mechanic with dreams of owning his own auto shop one day, succumbed to his wounds and died three days later.

His loved ones gathered for a vigil in his honor Thursday, remembering him as a hard worker with a big heart, who’s smile brought joy to his family and friends.

His mother Lauren Morales tried to comfort her devastated 16-year-old daughter, a pain she calls “a mother's worst nightmare.”

“It breaks my heart that the whoever did this to him hasn't come forward,” Morales said. “That their conscience is not eating them alive.”

Police are looking for a grey or silver SUV and have been pouring over traffic and surveillance cameras in the area.

“We don't think they intentionally wanted to run over Mr. Gonzalez,” Waukegan Police Department commander Joe Florip said. “We would like to talk to them and figure out what happened. We understand they are scared and nervous, but we'd like them to come into the police department and talk to us.”