Julian Branker died when police say he slipped and fell on Leavenworth Street and three cars ran him over.

'He won't get another chance, because nobody stopped': Victim's friend talks about hit-and-run death

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT IN THE STREET. BRIGHT BALLOONS AND FLOWERS SIT IN THE SNOW. AS DRIVERS PASS BY ON LEAVENWORT >> THERE WERE NO SAFETY SET FOR HIM, EVEN A MAN AT 30 YEARS OLD, COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM. REPORTER: THIS IS WHERE 64-YEAR-OLD JULIAN BRANKER, WHO WALKED WITH A CANE, SLIPPED AND FELL LAST FRIDAY NIGHT. BEFORE A GOOD SAMARITAN COUL GET TO HIM, POLICE SAY THREE CARS RAN HIM OVER AND NEVER STOPPED. TERRY ROCHELLE AND J.B., AS HE CALLS HIM, CONNECTED FOUR YEARS AGO, IN AN UNLIKELY PLACE, WHERE PEOPLE CONSTANTLY COME AND GO. THE SIENA FRANCIS HOUSE. >> AT THAT TIME ME AND JB BECAME CLOSER AND CLOSER THROUGH TRAGEDIES AND ENDED UP IN NEBRASKA WITH NO MONEY AND NOTHING TO GO WITH. REPORTER: ROCHELLE SAYS HE FOUND AN APARTMENT, MOVED IN HIS DISABLED FRIEND, WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS AND TOOK CARE OF HIM. ,>> JB AIN’T EVER STAYED NO WHERE IN HIS LIFE BUT WHEN H CAME HERE THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT AND EVERYTHING, I FINALLY MADE IT HOME, HE SAID. REPORTER: WHEN J.B. DIDN’T COME HOME FROM KWIK SHOP FRIDAY, ROCHELLE WENT LOOKING FOR HIM. >> I FELT IT IN MY GUT. REPORTER: HIS MESSAGE TO THOSE DRIVERS WHO KEPT GOING, DO THE RIGHT THING. >> EVEN THOUGH YOU MADE A MISTAKE IT AINT’ THE END OF THE WORLD, HOW ABOUT JB, HE WON’T GET ANOTHER CHANCE BECAUSE NOBODY STOPPED. REPORTER: ROCHELLE MISSES HIS FRIEND BUT IS THANKFUL FOR THE TIME THEY HAD TOGETHER. >> HE FELL DOWN BUT HE NOT GONNA GET UP NO MORE, BUT I THINK HE IN A BETTER

Advertisement 'He won't get another chance, because nobody stopped': Victim's friend talks about hit-and-run death Julian Branker died when police say he slipped and fell on Leavenworth Street and three cars ran him over. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Omaha police believe they have found one of the vehicles and a possible suspect involved in a deadly hit-and-run near 36th Street and Leavenworth Street last Friday night. A witness told police two other cars also hit Julian Branker, 64, and kept going."There were no safety set up for him, even a man, a 30-year-old, this could have happened to him," Terry Rochelle said.Rochelle and Branker were roommates. They met four years ago in an unlikely place, where people constantly come and go: the Siena Francis House."At that time, me and JB became closer and closer through tragedies and we both ended up in Nebraska with no money and nothing to go with," Rochelle said. "He was like the father I never had."Rochelle said when he got an apartment, he moved in Branker, who walked with a cane and had other health problems and took care of him."JB ain't never stayed nowhere in his life, but when he came here through the management and everything, he said, 'I finally made it home,'" Rochelle said.Rochelle said when Branker didn't come home after walking to the Kwik Shop, he went looking for him."I felt it in my gut," Rochelle said.Rochelle has a message to the drivers who didn't stop, do the right thing."Even though you made a mistake, it ain't the end of the world, how about JB, he won't get another chance because nobody stopped," Rochelle said.If anyone has information about the drivers who didn't stop, call the Omaha police traffic unit at 402-444-5626 or Crimestoppers at 402-444-STOP. (7867)Branker didn't any relatives to make final arrangements for him. Friends set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses.