Students mourn 15-year-old girl killed in Cobb hit-and-run

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Faculty and classmates at East Point's Tri-Cities High School are mourning the sudden death of 15-year-old Reina As-Salaam, who died in a hit-and-run in Cobb County Sunday evening.

Cobb Police say As-Salaam was walking along Barrett Lakes Boulevard with friends Juliana Ferrell and Monica Epps when a high-speed chase roared by.

According to investigators, the chase started when Garrett Anderson refused to pay locksmith Tansu Kanlica $175 for unlocking his car.  Police say Anderson drove away, and Kanlica gave chase.  As the chase drove down Barrett Lakes, police say Kanlica's car jumped the curb and plowed into the three girls.

As-Salaam died at the scene.  Ferrell suffered critical injured and remains in a coma at a Cobb County hospital.  Epps suffered broken bones but should survive. Police have arrested both Kanlica and Anderson.

"I was speechless when I heard it," said As-Salaam's principal Dan Sims.  "It hurts.  Anytime we lose one of our babies, it really hurts."

Sims said he's known As-Salaam and her entire family for years.  Her mother is the Chief Magistrate Judge for East Point.  He also knows Ferrell since she attended Tri-Cities for one year before moving to Cobb.

"Here she is just doing what teenaged girls do, have fun on a Sunday afternoon only to suffer at the hands of someone else's foolish act," said Sims.

Sims said they hope to plan a memorial service at Tri-Cities some time Friday evening.

WSBTV