'I just want her here': Father remembers 6-year-old killed by suspected DUI driver on I-10

PHOENIX, AZ — Public fury is mounting after a suspected drunk driver violently ended the life of an innocent 6-year-old girl, Armyah Mixon, in a senseless highway crash—then demonstrated the ultimate act of cowardice by fleeing the devastating scene. This monstrous act has shattered a family and delivered a powerful, sickening reminder of the devastation caused by impaired driving.

Armyah Mixon, a bright-eyed first grader described by her heartbroken father as a child who "lit up every room she walked in," was killed instantly Sunday evening as her family drove eastbound on I-10, eagerly anticipating a trip to the Arizona State Fair.

That joy was violently obliterated when the family's car was rear-ended near 67th Avenue by a suspected intoxicated driver, sending their vehicle careening into the concrete median wall.

"She didn’t deserve what happened to her," cried her father, Tyus Mixon, speaking through unimaginable grief. "Every time she smiled, you wanted to smile with her. It was just that powerful."

A COWARDLY FLIGHT FROM JUSTICE

The suspect, identified by the Arizona Department of Public Safety as Turatsinze Gadi, did not stop to render aid or face the consequences of his presumed recklessness. Instead, the driver fled the scene of the fatal carnage. Gadi was later apprehended at a gas station barely two miles away, an act that underscores a horrifying lack of remorse.

The devastating fallout is compounded by the fact that Armyah’s younger sister, only 4 years old, was also severely injured in the crash and remains hospitalized.

"This man has caused a lot of pain in our family," stated the victim's grandmother, Quaneisha Adu. The pain of a young life, full of "Frozen" songs and infectious smiles, being carelessly extinguished by an irresponsible driver is a tragedy that demands fierce justice.

Gadi’s alleged decision to drink, drive, and then flee the scene of a crime that murdered a child is an insult to every responsible citizen. The community is watching, demanding that prosecutors pursue the harshest penalties possible for this unforgivable act of wanton negligence.

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