Family of Teaneck man killed in Moonachie hit-and-run demands justice

Brian Rossi came from a big family.

The youngest of six, he had five older sisters.

Now, his siblings find themselves without their only brother.

Rossi, 28, of Teaneck, was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Moonachie Jan. 5. The driver was not found after leaving the scene and in the month since, Rossi's family members have done all they can to find answers.

"It's devastating," Stephanie Rossi, Brian's sister, said. "I lost my mom when I was 22 and it was really hard because it was sudden. But this is different not only because it's a brother, that's not why it's different. It's different because he was killed and we don't know what happened that night and the people have not been brought to justice. I feel like if they are, we'll have at least some sense of comfort that they have to face the consequences of their actions."

The vehicle that fatally struck Brian Rossi was believed to be a black Ford Focus, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. Rossi was hit on Route 46 east near the intersection of Industrial Avenue. The Ford model could be from 2012 to 2015 and had significant front-end damage including a broken passenger side headlight and side-view mirror.

Bergen County: Here's why Bergen County has so many towns

The Ford parked behind a nearby business after fleeing on Route 46 Jan. 5 and a Mitsubishi Lancer arrived shortly after as both vehicles left together. The vehicles were also seen traveling southbound on Terrace Avenue in the area of Route 17, headed toward Hasbrouck Heights.

That day ended the life of Brian Rossi, a man described as the outdoorsy type by his sister. He lived in Teaneck for around 10 years and was studying school psychology. He wanted to enter the field to help people, his sister said.

Running, biking, hiking, roller coasters and dogs were just some of the things that brought a smile to Brian Rossi's face. He shared some of those activities with his sisters.

"It wasn't always easy for him to have five older sisters but he developed his own unique relationship with each of us," Stephanie Rossi said. "He would do anything for any of us."

Another of his sisters, Stacey, called the loss a great tragedy.

"I loved him like he was my own son," she said. "I don't have children and I'm much older than he was, 17 years older. So it's just really, really rough for me. There must be people out there who know something. We just wish that if anyone knows anything they would come out and come forward with whatever they might know."

The Rossi family has had roots in Bergen County for decades. Brian Rossi's grandparents lived in Bergenfield for around 70 years. His father, Dennis Rossi, coached basketball at Old Tappan, St. Joe's and Bergenfield.

The family came together through tragedy. Dennis Rossi's grandchildren helped him through it, his sister Cathleen Rossi-McLaughlin said.

Stephanie Rossi's 3-year-old son Nolan comforted his mother, telling her that he could be her brother. Nolan also asked his mom if they could take a train to heaven to see Brian, Stephanie recalled.

Through the sadness, members of the Rossi family also felt disbelief on how someone could leave the scene after hitting Brian.

"The fact that he was just left, you don't do that for an animal," Rossi-McLaughlin said. "It's devastating that he was just left. You can understand shock. You can understand an accident, but to leave him there? That's unforgivable."

Stacey Rossi found the act unfathomable.

"I just can't imagine knowing that you hit someone and driving away," she said. "I can't imagine how anyone could do that. I hit a bird and that upsets the heck out of me. I just don't understand it. It's horrible."

More: Want to say goodbye to Sears at Paramus Park? Saturday is store's last day

Family members put up flyers around Hasbrouck Heights and the surrounding towns with information on Brian and the vehicles suspected in the case to further spread the word.

Anyone with information about the vehicles or the incident can contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit at 201-226-5698 or the Moonachie Police Department at 201-641-9100.

"I would like to ask the people who are responsible for this to just find it in their hearts to come forward," Stephanie Rossi said. "Picture it being their own father, brother, nephew or son that this happened to, and what it would do to them inside and to just ask for them to please try to give us some peace.

"We will not stop until they're caught. We will not stop."

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com