HARTFORD — Hartford Police say that Rosella Shuler, the woman who was struck on July 18th by a stolen SUV, has died.
On that tragic day, Hartford Police were dispatched to the area of Ashley Street and Sigourney Street at 12:40 p.m., in response to a report of a motor vehicle crash with injuries. Two people had been hit in that crash.
When officers arrived, the found Shuller suffering from severe injuries. A car, later determined to have been stolen from West Hartford, was also located. The people inside the stolen car fled the area on foot before police arrived. Shuller was taken to Saint Francis Hospital where she was listed in critical condition.
A week later, her daughter, Jessica Vazquez, had told FOX61 Shuler had to undergo multiple surgeries, that she was on a breathing tube, and that both of her legs were amputated.
During the investigation, police reviewed surveillance footage which showed the incident. With the video evidence and witness information, police were led to the ID of a person of interest. An arrest warrant was issued on July 28th which charged Deykevious Russaw, 18, of Hartford, with assault, larceny, and evading among other charges. Police say he’s already in custody on unrelated charges.
Shuler’s son, Christopher Walker said he and his three siblings are devastated their mother did not survive her injuries. She reminisced about the love his mother had for her nine grandchildren, and for all children alike.
“She’d do anything for them and any other person with kids she’d take of just off the street randomly. It’s a freak of nature that this happened by a kid, she loved kids. She probably would have taken them out for ice cream or something and just sat down and talked to them and that’s the kind of person she is,” Walker said.
Police say the investigation is still ongoing.
