Police find hit-and-run car, looking for driver

FORT MYERS – Fort Myers Police say they found the car involved in a deadly hit and run crash, but the driver responsible is still out there somewhere. Evan Shepherd was killed on Sunday morning at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Blvd.

With the devastating news of Shepherd’s death came a silver lining for his mom and her boyfriend.

“I think it’s important to know that Evan was an organ donor and so that was a very bright moment for us on Sunday,” said Patricia Sala, Evan Shepherd’s mother.

Now, three days after his death, police found the car they believe drove away. His family says it’s more important than ever for people to come forward.

“Obviously they have the car,” said Larry Aguilar, Patricia Sala’s boyfriend, “They know who the owner is, but we don’t know who the driver is.”

Sala and Aguilar say without that knowledge, they can’t move on and neither can the person holding the guilt.

“The person driving that car must be going through a tremendous ordeal,” Aguilar said. “They must be suffering as well. They’re carrying a heavy burden. They know they’ve taken a life and we’re making an appeal to them to come forward, make yourself know and let’s deal with this now. Every day that goes by, it becomes a little bit more complicated.”

In the meantime, his friends plan to honor shepherd as they remember him, a talented artist. On Friday, February 6th they plan to display his final pieces downtown at art walk.

“The pieces that he did make before he left us were museum-quality pieces,” Nick Masiello, “they could have been exhibited in very nice fashion and I think they could have sold for quite a bit.”

The proceeds from the Bootlegger Gallery exhibit at art walk will go to Shepherd’s family. The family has also set up a memorial fund in Shepherd’s name.