Pastor killed in hit-and-run; Philadelphia police looking for driver

A pastor was killed in North Philadelphia in a hit-and-run incident last week, and police are giving the driver a message that it would be better to turn himself in.

"The reality is today with technology being what it is, in terms of video surveillance being out there, it's not one of those things where you're going to get away with it," Lt. John Stanford of the Philadelphia Police said, as quoted by CBS Philly.

The incident took place on May 26, shortly after a service at a church in Georgetown. The victim, identified as a pastor Eliezer Leon, drove a group of inviduals who were overcoming substance abuse to Front Street. He dropped them off at residential ministry Soldiers of the Lord Recovery House. According to reports, just as Leon was getting into his white Dodge van, a north-bound vehicle hit him. The impact was reportedly so hard that it knocked the van's door off, subsequently dragging the pastor some 20 feet.

The driver, however, did not stop. A witness told the network that everyone at the scene was frantic as people tried help a man lying on the ground. The church's head pastor Teofilo Claudio was informed about 10 minutes later that there had been an accident up the street.

"I went out and I saw this man laying there, and I recognized that it was 'Ellie' Eliazer Leon, and I said 'Oh My God,' and it put me in a state of shock," Claudio told CBS Philly. 

The 57-year-old pastor was taken to the Temple University Hospital but passed away the following morning.

"He was preaching. He had a great message last night. After it was over... we drove the boys to the (North Front Street) house," he told ABC Action News. "He worked with the boys, he bring the message, the word of God, he's trying to make sure they go straight." 

According to ABC, authorities are looking for a dark colored Saab 9-3, model between 2003 and 2007. The front fender, on the passenger side, is expected to have damage, and the tire on the passenger side would be flat. The black side view mirror on the passenger side could have scrape marks on the outer edge, and the front windshield is likely to have some kind of damage on the edge on the passenger side.

Anyone with information may call the Philadelphia Police Accident Investigation District at 215-685-3180/3181 or call 911.