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Boy struck dead by car 'very well-liked'

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Martell Gray adds stuffed animals to a makeshift memorial in the 300 block of Elmhurst Road on Monday morning. Daquan 'Day-Day' Sales died almost instantly Saturday, June 13, when he was hit by an unlicensed driver on the road.

Staff photo by Jim Witmer Martell Gray adds stuffed animals to a makeshift memorial in the 300 block of Elmhurst Road on Monday morning. Daquan 'Day-Day' Sales died almost instantly Saturday, June 13, when he was hit by an unlicensed driver on the road.

12-year-old 'was one of the greatest kids you’ll ever meet,' says a family friend.

By Thomas Gnau and Lucas Sullivan
Staff Writers Updated 5:41 PM Tuesday, June 16, 2009

DAYTON — DaQuan “Day-Day” Sales was a well-mannered young man with a fierce love of basketball. He was someone who knew when and how to respect his elders, those who knew and loved him said Monday, June 15.

DaQuan, 12, was riding his bicycle along Elmhurst Road about 7:15 p.m. Saturday when a white Buick crossed a double yellow line to pass a vehicle and struck him, said Dayton police Lt. Brian Johns. He was not wearing a helmet, Johns said.

The driver, a 25-year-old Dayton man, sped away, then returned, talked to police and submitted a blood sample. Johns said the man smelled of marijuana and admitted not having a driver’s license. Court records show he also has several convictions, including carrying concealed weapons.

Steve Richardson, who was at the North Antioch Street home of Sales’ mother Monday, was able to speak of DaQuan only briefly before choking up.

“He was one of the greatest kids you’ll ever meet,” Richardson said.

Janell Sales, DaQuan’s mother, was surrounded by friends and family Monday afternoon at a Circle Road home.

“I’m holding up,” Janell Sales said. “We have a big, big, big family and a very big support system.”

She spoke of her son’s love of basketball, talking of his plans to attend NBA star Daequan Cook’s June 22-23 Basketball Skills Camp at Dunbar High School. (Cook attended Dunbar.)

“He was really, really good,” Janell Sales said of her son. “That’s what he loved to do.”

DaQuan, a student at Fairview Elementary School, often could be found behind the house at North Antioch and West Second streets playing basketball at a portable rim.

“I played basketball with him every day,” Richardson said. “Good kid. He loved to be playing basketball and riding his bicycle.”

Kim Jones, another family friend visiting the North Antioch house Monday, described DaQuan as “very nice and respectful” who knew when to say “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am.”

Fairview Principal Charles Davis called DaQuan “a very well-liked student.”

“He was on our basketball team, on the safety patrol and he volunteered in the building any time someone needed some extra help and he was done with his work,” Davis said.

Staff and teachers at the school at 1305 W. Fairview Ave. were shocked and heartbroken over DaQuan’s death, which occurred three days after school recessed for summer break, Davis said.

Staff Writer Anthony Gottschlich contributed to this report.

Driver has troubled history

Antwonne McGinnis, the driver of the car that struck and killed DaQuan Sales, was first indicted in Montgomery County in 2004 on charges of attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle and possession of criminal tools.

Treatment becomes conviction: In January 2005, he was granted treatment in lieu of conviction, but didn’t make it. In early 2006 after he violated several rules, including testing positive for marijuana, he pleaded guilty to both counts in April of that year. He was sentenced to five years community control.

More drug offenses: Later he was sentenced to 12 months in prison for that case and for another in which he pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine. He entered prison in January 2007 and left in November, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Firearm, drug convictions: In 2008, he was indicted twice, once for possessing a firearm after a drug conviction and once for disrupting public services. He pleaded guilty in both cases and was placed on five years probation each time.

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