SAN ANTONIO – Howsman Elementary School parents provided emotional and financial support to 8-year-old Jesus Ortega's family Monday evening. The second-grader was hit and killed while crossing the street in the 9000 block of Wurzbach Road Christmas night.
Ortega's uncle said the boy was with his 12-year-old brother and a friend at the time of the accident.
"He told me they were going to walk to Golden Wok to go ask for food for the fishes, give food to the fishes, and then go back to the store, go buy candies and then go back to the apartment," Candelario Ortega said.
Jesus, who was known affectionately to his family as Chuy, was the youngest of four boys. The child is already greatly missed by more than just relatives.
"All the kids were really sad when they heard the news and they were crying, of course," said Manuel Garcia, a parent of a child at Howsman. "I don't know how close they were, but for sure they all feel it."
Jesus' classmates will return to school Jan. 2. A Northside Independent School District spokesman said extra support will be available for students and staff who need it once school resumes.
The driver who hit Jesus did stop and cooperated in the investigation. He's not expected to face any charges.
The family is raising funds to pay for funeral expenses.