My 15 year old son, Felipe Manuel Infante Avalos who we all called Pipé, was walking to school at 6:30am on Friday the 27th of October when he was murdered by a distracted driver - Arturo Mercado Garcia.

He was in the crosswalk just 4 houses away from our home, when Mercado Garcia hit and killed him then fled from the scene leaving my son critically injured bleeding to death on the road. He was finally caught and arrested on the 9th of November, but then was quickly released under OR (own recognizance). Per a statement from the judge Emily Garcia Uhrig for the case, there was evidence that Mercado Garcia was watching TikTok videos when he hit my son.

My son bravely fought to stay with us for 12 agonizing long days, but he succumbed to his injuries on the 8th of November - a day I will never forget and any mother should ever have to go through.

My son was an angel who, no matter what, was always happy, humble, creative, respectful, honest and very smart. He had a passion for sewing and crafting his own stuffed animals and was part of the ROTC. His siblings and I miss him every day. His absence is irreparable and very noticeable throughout our 24 hours of everyday.

I am imploring the LA County District Attorney and the Mayor of Los Angeles to ensure that my son’s murderer is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Mercado Garcia’s actions were willful and took the life of a sweet young man.

 

Hit-and-run crimes are on the rise, with a 26% increase in hit-and-run fatalities in the City of Los Angeles in 2023 alone. The amount of deaths on our roads is going up and up with no apparent end in sight. Last year there was a 13% increase in pedestrian fatalities and another highest on record of traffic fatalities in LA City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is time that these hit-and-run crimes be charged to the full extent of the law - stop just allowing plea deals - and publicly make an example of each. Lives are being lost and our city is dangerous for our kids. A mother should not have to bury their child because they were killed traveling to school. This man has been granted the freedom to work and provide for his family and be with them while he’s doing time while I spend every minute of the rest of my life without my son being with me and his siblings.

Ensure that my son’s killer does not get off lightly. Then continue for every hit-and-run offender. We must make it known that this is not acceptable in our city and make our streets safe.