Police Arrest Suspect in Hit-and-Run Death of Boy

Police said Monday they had arrested the man they believe hit a 4-year-old boy with his car and then watched as the boy died in a South-Central driveway.

Reginald A. Robinson, 19, was arrested Friday. But to ensure that subsequent witness reports were “based on true facts” and not the promise of a $25,000 reward for a conviction, police had withheld that information, said Lt. Kenny Garner.

On Sunday, police said only that they had taken an unnamed man into custody. On Monday, they announced the arrest and said it had been made independently of citizen tips.

The boy, Daniel Maldonado, was playing on a skateboard May 13 when he was run over in the driveway of an apartment building on Colden Avenue at Figueroa Street.

Several witnesses--including the boy’s 13-year-old brother--saw Robinson get out of his car and watch the boy die, Garner said.

When Daniel’s brother tried to scribble down Robinson’s license plate number, Robinson grabbed the paper out of his hand and threatened to kill any informant, police said.

The threat inspired several hundred community members to hold a candlelight vigil last week to show their resolve in the face of intimidation. Police said Daniel’s brother was apprehensive about providing them with information but cooperated.