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Updated 03/14/2013 06:31 PM

Teen killed in Poughkeepsie hit and run

The Dutchess County Medical Examiner says a teenager died following an apparent hit and run accident in the City of Poughkeepsie. Police say the driver is nowhere to be found. YNN's John Wagner reports.

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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- City of Poughkeepsie police responded Wednesday night to 911 calls of a person lying on the eastbound arterial by St. Mary's Church. They found Shequila Brown, 18, a Poughkeepsie High School senior who was later pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital.

"I don't wish this on nobody, but her of all people didn't deserve this," said Yelonnie Johnson, a close friend. "She was like one of the nicest girls you could meet out here. Like she didn't judge nobody, she was a nice, quiet type, didn't get in trouble. She just liked to have fun."

Police are calling the incident a hit and run. But with clues few and far between, they say the only way this case will get solved is with the public's help. They need anyone near the intersection of Church Street (eastbound arterial) and South Hamilton Street around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday to give them a call.

"She was very calm, cool and collected," said a classmate. "I'm sorry, but whoever did that, it's messed up and wrong."

"Enough is enough. We have to do something about this," said Poughkeepsie School Board President Ralph Coates.

Brown acted as a role model to younger girls in Poughkeepsie High School's "Sisters to Sisters" program and she was mentored by the school board president as part of "Upward Bound," a college prep course at Marist College. She was on track to graduate this spring.

"She was very quiet, she kept to herself, but for her life to end this way, we have to do something as a community," said Coates.

It was a somber day at Poughkeepsie High School as most students learned the news in the classroom.

"It's been extremely rough," said Principal Edgar Glascott. "We have kids that are really hurting, we have staff that are really hurting and most of all, our thoughts and prayers go out to Shequila's mom and grandma and family."

Brown’s friends say she attended church every week at Beulah Baptist and had a very bright outlook. Now police are on the lookout for the person they say stole her future.

"She's gone, but never forgotten though," said a classmate.

"Everybody remembers her for that smile and those eyes. Those eyes, they kept you going," said Yelonnie Johnson.

Witnesses should call the City of Poughkeepsie Police Tips Line at (845) 451-7577. All calls will be kept confidential.