PHOENIX -- On Friday, police released photos of two men they hope to identify and talk to in the case of a 15-year-old boy killed after apparently being pushed into traffic.
Phoenix Police Sgt. Darren Burch said detectives want to talk to these 'persons of interest' in connection with the murder investigation.
Silent Witness is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who has information about the crime that will lead to an arrest. The number to call is 480-WITNESS.
"We need some help on this, we need information from the public who may be able to help detectives in this case," said Phoenix Detective James Holmes.
On November 4, police released surveillance video of two teens that might have pushed the teen to his death.
SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE IN THE ATTACHED SLIDESHOW "Somebody has information and somebody knows the people in the video," said Holmes.
The victim, Francisco Elias, apparently called a family member from his cell phone late Tuesday, just moments before the tragic incident, saying he was afraid something bad was about to happen.
"He felt something and he called and told my cousin that two guys were following him and he needed help. At first my cousin didn't believe him, but he went anyway to find him," said Antonia Nino, the boy's cousin.
"When he was around the corner, he could hear the tires of the cars screeching, so he started running. But when he got there they were already putting a blanket over my cousin," Nino said.
Elias was hit on November 3rd by three cars on 35th Avenue, near Southern.
Police said two of the vehicles, an SUV and a car, fled the area.
The surveillance video, released by detectives, shows Elias leaving a nearby convenience store minutes before he was killed.
There are three black males who were standing outside the door of the store who detectives are trying to identify.
"They don't look familiar, for me they're just hanging out there," said Elias' cousin.
ABC15 invited the family to view the surveillance video. A large group of family members gathered around video monitors to watch the images of Elias as he walked out of the store and toward his house.
The video shows the group of kids saying something to Elias and then appear to laugh and make gestures toward him and possibly someone standing on the street nearby.
"They said something to him (Elias), then he turned back and kept walking," observed Elias' cousin. "He just turns back and keeps walking, see he (Elias) was just trying to leave he didn't talk back or nothing and they just followed him and ganged up on him."
Elias can be seen walking toward the street and the group follows. As the teen reached the corner, nearly out of view of the cameras, another person appears to approach him.
From that point, according to witnesses, he was chased by the group.
Phoenix Police Detective James Holmes said the teen might have actually been pushed into traffic.
"When I heard, I felt like I was going crazy," said a tearful Martin Nino, Elias' uncle. "I still can't believe this."
Officers arrived at the scene in Phoenix around 6:30 p.m.
According to Holmes, Elias died at the scene after he fell into the inside lane and was hit by the vehicles.
Witnesses told police that two black males, ages 14 to 18 and wearing dark clothing, had been chasing Francisco and might have pushed him into the roadway.
"He was bothered about some guys that were giving him a hard time. He didn't want to go to school here," said Antonia Nino, who described her cousin as a good kid with good grades.
The boy's uncle is now pleading with the public to help police find his nephew's attackers.
"All I can say is, take care of your kids, we don't know what kind of world we're living in and we don't know if we have tomorrow," Martin Nino sobbed.
Elias died less than a block from his home.
The 15-year-old had just celebrated his birthday on Sunday.
Police investigators said they have very little to go on at this time.
They are asking that anyone who might have information or recognize the two teens on the surveillance video or the others in the surveillance photos please call the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
