| 
Tribune
Increases Reward to $20,000 for Information in Hit and Run
Accident
Eight-Year-Old Son of Tribune Publishing Employee Killed
CHICAGO,
June 17, 2004 -- Tribune Company today
announced that it has increased the reward to $20,000 for
information provided to the Chicago Police Department leading
to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible
for the hit and run death of Luis D. Mesa. Luis was the 8-year-old
son of Maria Mesa, an employee of the Tribune-owned South
Florida Sun-Sentinel and former Chicago Tribune employee. Last summer, Luis and his family
were in Chicago visiting relatives when he was struck
and killed by a dark colored 4-door Chevrolet on the
6200 block of West Grand Avenue on Friday, August 15,
2003 at 9:30 p.m. CT. The car was traveling eastbound.
At the time the accident occurred, Maria, Luis
and his brother Andy, his aunt and two cousins were crossing
the street after saying goodbye to family members at
the end of a week-long vacation in Chicago.
Luis would have been getting ready to start the fourth
grade this year at Palm Springs Elementary School near
his home in Hialeah , Florida . He enjoyed drawing, reading
and spending time with his brothers and parents, Maria
and Jorge Felix.
"On behalf of our employee Maria
Mesa, Tribune Company is again reaching out to the community
for assistance in identifying those responsible for this
terrible accident," said
Luis Lewin, Tribune Company senior vice president/human
resources. "We hope that this increased reward will encourage
anyone with information about the accident to come forward
and speak with the Chicago Police."
The company and the Chicago Police Department will partner
with neighborhood community groups to distribute reward
flyers in and around the accident site.
"More than 50,000 hit and run accidents
occur in Chicago every year," said Norbert Panek, Chicago
Police Department sergeant. "We're asking for the community's
help in solving this case and finding the person or persons
responsible for Luis Mesa's death."
Anyone with information about the accident is encouraged
to contact the Chicago Police Department at (312)745-4521.
::
:: ::
TRIBUNE (NYSE: TRB) is one of the
country's premier media companies, operating businesses
in broadcasting and publishing. It reaches more than
80 percent of U.S. households and is the only media organization
with television stations, newspapers and websites in
the nation's top three markets. In publishing, Tribune
operates 14 leading daily newspapers including the Los
Angeles Times , Chicago Tribune, Newsday and
Spanish-language Hoy , plus a wide range of
targeted publications. The company's broadcasting group
operates 26 television stations; Superstation WGN on
national cable; WGN-AM in Chicago; and the Chicago Cubs
baseball team. Popular news and information websites
complement Tribune's print and broadcast properties and
extend the company's nationwide audience. |
