Soccer team honors 8-year-old killed in hit-and-run

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A youth soccer organization is remembering one of its players who was killed in a hit-and-run crash last year.

Malikai Orozco Romero was an 8-year-old Pop Warner football player for the San Diego Youth Aztecs. He wore number 37.

During a ceremony across from the field where he played at Montgomery High School, Orozco Romero’s number 37 was framed and presented to his mother.

Next year the team will wear patches with its number.

“We put it here on the collar, number 37,” said Travis Faalave, president of the organization.

The 8-year-old and his 4-year-old brother, Mason, were passengers in their mother’s car in December when a driver struck them during a police chase. Both boys were killed and their mother was hospitalized. The driver, Angel Velasquez Salgado, who police said was driving at speeds of over 100 mph at times, has been charged with murder.

“It was painful, it was heartbreaking,” Faalave said.

On Saturday, the San Diego Aztecs held their annual Aztecs Day at the park. This year, the day was all about honoring Malikai.

“Having something special for him touched my heart,” Faalave added.

Faalave stood next to Malikai’s mother, Victoria Romero, as players held a moment of silence and released balloons in his honor.

“The highlight was honoring Malikai, putting him first and dedicating this season to him,” Faalave said.

His mother had to hold back tears as her son was remembered and the team promised to keep him with them until next season.

“He’ll always be an Aztec,” Faalave said. “He’s a part of this organization.”

A San Diego police oversight agency is calling on the department to make changes to its pursuit policy following the crash that killed two boys.