Deadly hit-and-run victim remembered as compassionate, willing to help

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Rochester is remembering a beloved member of the community after a deadly hit and run over the weekend. A balloon release vigil was held on Clifford Avenue, Tuesday night.

Friends and family say 36-year-old Richard Massey Jr. was well known in the community, and that he died doing what he loved, which was helping people.

"Richard was a good person, that’s my oldest son, he was loved by everybody, you can see that everyone loved him, they knew him, I can’t believe that this happened to him,” said his father, Richard Massey Sr.

The 36-year-old was known to everyone in the community by his nickname "Hook”.

"That was the shape of his head, so that’s why we called him that,” Massey’s godfather, Kenny Manley, told News10NBC.

Police say Sunday morning on North Winton Road, Massey had pulled over to the side of the road to check on a minor crash that involved someone he knew. Investigators say when Massey got out of his car, one of the cars involved in the crash hit him as it drove off.

Tuesday, police say they were able to find the car that hit Massey, but the registered owner of that car is not fully cooperating with the investigation. Family members are asking anyone involved or witnesses to come forward.

"Hopefully you turn yourself in, if it was a mistake, and you didn’t mean to do it, then step up and tell them that,” Massey Sr. said.

"I hope they have remorse for what they did, because in the road when you hit someone you know you hit somebody", Manley added.

Massey Jr. was known in the community for his compassion, and willingness to help anyone who needed it. Everyone holding a balloon, had a memory to share. His father, says he died, trying to help someone, and that the community showed up for him the way he would have shown up for them.

"He was happy all the time, doing whatever he was doing, and he took very good care of his kids”, his father added.

Part of the investigation is figuring out if the driver intentionally hit Massey, or if it was an accident. Any witnesses and anyone with information are asked to call the police.