GLENDALE, AZ — Glendale police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who killed a 21-year-old woman.
At 9 p.m. Monday, police responded to the area of 71st Avenue and Bell Road for an injured person.
While on the scene, officers learned a woman was hit by a vehicle.
She was taken to a hospital where she died. She has been identified as 21-year-old Tony Marie Gonzales.
"Right now, she would tell me to stop crying and just think about the kids and think about what's the next move," said Gonzales' partner Ira Smallcanyon.
He told ABC15 he was there the night Gonzales was hit, walking alongside her. Smallcanyon said they were cutting across a bridge when Gonzales was hit and thrown.
"It’s kind of hard because it happened in front of me," said Smallcanyon. "These are her scratch marks from when she was holding on to me."
The driver of the vehicle did not stop and detectives are working to identify the vehicle and driver.
Smallcanyon said the pair has faced struggles, including losing their apartment. He said they were trying to get back on their feet, but now he will continue that process on his own.
Gonzales' family said she was a member of the Navajo Nation and a mom of two, one being a five-month-old.
"I want justice," said Smallcanyon. "I want this person found. They took away a daughter, a mother, a friend…"
Gonzales' mom, Amy James, spoke with ABC15 over the phone. She shared a eulogy she plans to share at her daughter's service.
"Tony faced challenges in her young life, but she never let them define her," wrote James. "She was always resilient, always rising above. She had a warrior spirit and a heart full of grace. She didn't shy away from speaking her truth. She was bold, direct, and always and always stood up for herself and the people she loved. She was a fierce advocate, a protector and someone who knew her worth, but perhaps the most radiant part of Tony's journey was the love she poured into her children."
The family's goal is to be able to bring Gonzales back to her home state of New Mexico.
Gonzales' family is urging anyone with information to come forward.
If you have any information, you're urged to contact the Glendale Police Department at 623-930-3000 or through Silent Witness, 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377).
If you would like to help the family, a GoFundMe has been set up.
