The grieving parents of 12-year-old Keaton Slater have made a brave plea for help as they seek justice for their son.
Young Keaton tragically died after being hit by a car on Radford Road, Coventry, at around 4.30pm last Friday (14 June).
We’re working round the clock to trace Dolars Aleksanders, 21, who is wanted on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
As part of our ongoing enquiries we arrested a 56-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender last night. He remains in police custody for questioning.
Keaton’s family – mum Louise, dad Clint, and brothers Kai, 13 and Keanu, 17, have now made a direct plea for information from the public to assist our investigation, and for the suspect to do the right thing.
Keaton’s mum Louise said: “We were a family of five and now we’re a family of four, our lives will never be the same again.
“Hearing that whoever did this will not hand themselves in has left us all feeling helpless, and we need to get justice for our Keaton.
“We just want everyone to help find who took our son, and Keanu and Kai’s little brother away from us.
“We have lost our baby boy. Please, if anyone knows anything about where they are please come forward.”
Keanu said: “I will never be able to see him joke around with us again, never be able to see him grow up to be my age.
“There are not enough words to describe what he meant to us all. A best friend, a little brother, a son and now an angel.”
Tributes have also been paid by his school, Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Keresley, Coventry.
Headteacher Emma O’Connor, said: “Although Keaton only joined the school in September last year as part of the new year seven intake, he made a significant impact on everyone he met.
“What struck you most was Keaton’s fun-loving nature which helped make him popular with students and teachers alike.
“He was a beautiful, popular student with a wonderful sense of humour and our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family, who we know well as a school through his siblings who have also attended our school.
“Everyone at Cardinal Newman will miss him terribly, along with his incredible smile and his wonderful sense of humour.”
A 21-year-old man was yesterday detained on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been bailed pending further enquiries.
Another man was previously voluntary interviewed and released under investigation.
Our Serious Collision Investigation Unit is continuing its investigation and is asking for anyone who has dashcam footage from the surrounding area to come forward.
We’ve seized a black BMW after it was found abandoned on Friday evening in New Arley and that is being forensically examined.