HOUSTON — It's been nearly one month since Raymond Martinez died along the busy Parker Road at Bauman.
He died just two days before his 39th birthday and seven months after one of his two brothers died following a heart attack.
"I'm just hoping that he died instantly," said Raymond's mother Christine Martinez. “I have three boys, I only have one left.”
Christine and others said people often got the wrong impression of Raymond because of his tattoos, but, in reality, he was silly, helpful, and hard-working.
"He had three kids, and he was very involved with his kids, and they don’t have a dad now," said his aunt Sonia Martinez.
On Jan. 30, just before 11 p.m., Raymond was hit and killed by a vehicle while walking back home from a corner store. The incident was caught on camera by another business’s surveillance system.
It appears as if Martinez did not have the right-of-way, however, his family still believes the driver should have stopped, rendered aid, or called for help.
“I’m angry because they hit him," Christine said. "They drug his body and left him."
The video shows what appears to be a black Dodge Durango rolling over Martinez before heading toward the Hardy Toll Road. Unfortunately, the video is too grainy to make out a license plate.
"You need to come forward," Christine said. "Be honest with yourself."
"And just, you know, give us some closure you know?" said Raymond's brother Daniel Ortega. "That’s all we want.”
The family said that's especially needed for Raymond's three children struggling with the sudden loss of their father.
Raymond attended Sam Houston High where he participated in ROTC and stepping. In fact, showing his kids dance moves was a favorite pastime.
A Crime Stoppers reward of up to $5000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in this case.