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Tucson's Most Wanted

posted 04/23/04

Michael Kumer was on a skateboard and on his way home from a friend's house when somebody plowed into him from behind.

it was 7:45 p-m. and a good number of people were on country club when it happened. the only problem is most of their attention was diverted to Kumer's broken body as the man behind the wheel drove away.

Detective Richard Gilbert with the Tucson Police Department says, "As a year approaches the window of opportunity to gather evidence and to solve the crime narrows greatly."

Yet that's the task of detective Richard Gilbert.  On April 19th 2004, somebody ran down 15 year old Michael Kumer as he skateboarded home on Country Club.

Kumer was headed north in the bicycle lane when a bluish colored pickup swerved to the right and hit him.

Ddetective Gilbert says, "Evidence gathered at the scene puts the truck in the 1980 to 1986 model years of a Nissan or Datsun."

Authorities say it looks something like the picture attached to this story but probably has some damage to the front bumper and hood.

In any hit and run there's always the chance the driver didn't realize what happened and simply drove away.  But in this case, police say there's no chance, based on what happened after the accident.">

"By the witnesses at the scene he backed his vehicle up and then drove again north on Country Club after striking Michael.  There's very little doubt, says Gilbert.

Meantime Kumer's friends and family fight to carry on.

Marcella Kumer the victim's mother says, "This has devastated their lives and ours.  I think of Michael when I wake up in the morning.  I think of Michael when I go to bed at night."

Marcella Kumer is more frustrated than anyone.  last year she created these t-shirts in her son's memory.  a memory both she and authorities won't let die.

Detective Garcia says, "Someone knows; someone knows who struck Michael and left him on the roadway."

If you have any information you're asked to call 88 Crime. Up to a thousand dollars will go to the person whose tip leads to an arrest.

Since Kumer was killed...88 Crime has received at least 50 calls..
Unfortunately none has yielded any significant leads though your tip may be just what's needed to solve this case.