Emotional vigil held Monday for New Jersey boy killed in Staten Island hit and run

  Eyewitness News

STATEN ISLAND (WABC) -- Monday was an emotionally punishing day for the Gendy family - they buried their little boy, Kyrillos, on Monday morning, then lit candles with their school friends in South Amboy, New Jersey on Monday night.

Reda Gendy, Kyrillos' grieving father thanked the school community at Sacred Heart in South Amboy for all their support and prayers in the Gendy family's darkest days.

A candlelight vigil was held Monday evening at the Catholic School which the Gendy children attended. 7-year-old Gabby Gendy was in a cast. Kyrillos would have started Kindergarten.

The mother, her face still covered in bruises was crossing Richmond Road on Staten Island Friday with her two young children, when all three were struck by a hit and run driver.

Kyrillos was buried Monday morning amid a sea of bitter tears, while 334-year-old John Sanjurjo is accused of leaving the scene of the accident walked free on $50,000 bail, and was charged with three counts of leaving the scene of an accident.

Gendy's father, Reda Gendy, spoke to Eyewitness News, describing his pain.

"He took something from me that was very, very precious," he said. "He took life from me. He took a piece of our life. There is no way or shape or form we're going to put ourselves back together. There is absolutely no way we're going to be the same family ever again."

Later Monday, Kyrillos school in South Amboy will hold a candlelight vigil in his memory.

Meanwhile, Sanjurjo pleaded not guilty Sunday and denies he was behind the wheel, claming police got the wrong guy.

Defense attorney Anthony Caronna unsuccessfully attempted to get the case against Sanjurjo dismissed, arguing his client hadn't been identified by witnesses in the Friday night accident.

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