An investigation is underway after a Hialeah Hospital worker who became a TikTok star was killed in a hit-and-run Tuesday that was caught on camera.
Leonardo Gil, who worked as an endoscopy technician at the hospital, had just finished his shift and was on his motorcycle when he was struck and killed around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of East 8th Avenue and 21st Street.
Police said the vehicle that struck Gil was a dark-colored SUV or van. The driver momentarily stopped but ultimately fled the scene.
Surveillance video released by police Thursday showed the vehicle making a left turn at the intersection before it's hit by the motorcycle.
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“It shows that Mr. Gil, he was traveling southbound, he had the right of way when this vehicle turned out right in front of him, didn't give him an opportunity to even attempt to stop," Hialeah Police Lt. Eduardo Rodriguez. "Like I said, in the video, you see that the vehicle pulls forward and it looks like it's about to stop, it does stop for a very short period of time but then it just takes off again. So now that person could be facing some very serious charges.”
Gil, who had been working at the hospital since 2010 after arriving in South Florida from Cuba, had amassed a huge TikTok following with more than 100,000 followers.
Family members and co-workers held a vigil for Gil Thursday morning.
"Our family right now is just devastated. He only had his motorcycle for like three months, he never had a motorcycle before," niece Delia Acosta said. "We are just devastated because you never expect something like this to happen."
Police said the vehicle that fled the scene should have right side damage.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
