Saturday, August 11, 2007
By Mark Waller
Relatives of a 16-year-old graffiti painter who was hit and killed by an East Jefferson Levee District police vehicle said Friday that they were struggling to grapple with the sudden loss of a teenager they described as warm and creative.
Police identified the teenager as Victor Montano, a Houston resident who in recent weeks was visiting family members in the New Orleans area. Kenner police are investigating the death as an accident, and they declined to identify the Levee District police officer who was driving the vehicle that hit Montano.
"He was a really good kid, just like any typical teenager," said Sandra Montano of Marrero, the teenager's aunt. "He loved to paint. He'd been doing that since he was the age of 8. He was very, very good. He's talented."
Montano said she couldn't condone his spray-painting on the Parish Line Canal wall in Kenner, which is what police said he was doing Thursday when he caught the attention of the officer and a chase ensued, but she said he did not deserve a tragic death.
Kenner Police Chief Steve Caraway said Thursday that Montano ran when the Levee District officer spotted him. And as he tried to climb a fence, Caraway said, Montano appeared to trip and fall into the path of the officer's sport utility vehicle.
Along the cement levee wall were yellow letters outlined with red paint that appeared to say "MURK" or "MUNIK." Caraway said Friday that he didn't know what the letters mean.
Fran Campbell, executive director of the East Jefferson Levee District, also declined to identify the Levee District police officer on Friday. "We'll make a statement when we get the police report" from Kenner Police, Campbell said.
Family members said Montano lived with his mother in Houston but was visiting his father in Harvey, his grandparents in Marrero, his sister in Kenner and other relatives in the past few weeks.
His grandmother, Mary Henry Montano of Marrero, said Friday she remembered him saying, "Grandma, I love you," the last time she saw him several days ago.
"That child was so sweet," she said. On Thursday night, she said: "I cried all night. It hurts. It really hurts."
In addition to painting, Sandra Montano said her nephew loved skateboarding and break-dancing.
"He was a good little boy," said his stepmother, Joanne Montano of Harvey. "He wasn't harming anyone."
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Mary Sparacello contributed to this report.
Mark Waller may be reached at mwaller@timespicayune.com or (504) 883-7056.
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