Charlotte mother grieves 6-year-old killed in hit-and-run at neighborhood vigil

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Carrying white balloons more than a hundred people honored a 6-year-old girl on Friday afternoon who was killed last week in a hit-and-run.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, Mariana Espinoza died a day after she was run over by a car moments after stepping off her school bus on Friday, Oct. 23.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested a 17-year-old driver three days later, who they said, didn’t have a drivers license.

“Very thankful for the community to come out and support her,” Jacqui Segoviano said, through a translator.

A memorial for Espinoza grew day-by-day at the intersection of Barrington Drive and Lanecrest Drive, with neighbors and friends dropping off flowers, candles, balloons and toys.

Segoviano told WBTV her daughter was full of joy.

“She was a very happy girl, easy-going, she liked the attention. She liked to be the center of attention. She was very warm-hearted and I think that’s why people are out here supporting her,” Segoviano said.

Among the crowd at Friday’s balloon release were more than a dozen staff at Devonshire Elementary, where Espinzoa was a student.

Segoviano, through grief, said her attention is also on making sure her daughter gets justice.

“[I] want to make sure justice is served by the person that was driving, that he gets punished for it, because there’s no reason why he was driving such a high speed in a street like this with kids around and [I] just wants justice for her daughter,” Segoviano said.

Doorbell camera captures moments before deadly crash

Doorbell camera footage obtained by WBTV on Monday shows the moments before 6-year-old Espinoza was hit by a car near a school bus stop in Charlotte.

You can watch the footage in the video player below.

WARNING: The video below is graphic in nature and may be difficult to see. Watch at your own discretion.

WBTV edited the doorbell camera footage to provide context, and to omit the actual crash. The video above ends milliseconds before the crash occurs.