A community is in mourning after a when a delivery truck backed over him Friday morning.
Seven-year-old Jeremy Perez was apparently riding his bicycle to visit his mother, who had just started work at the Albertsons when the accident happened.
Redondo Beach police Sgt. Shawn Freeman said the driver thought something felt wrong as he backed into the bay, and when he got out of the semitrailer, he found Jeremy and his bike under the truck.
"Today a tragic accident occurred involving the child of one of our store associates," Albertsons said in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathy to this associate and their family."
Albertsons said the store would investigate the incident and cooperate with authorities.
In an interview with NBC Los Angeles, one of Jeremy's neighbors called him "an outgoing young man."
"He was a breath of fresh air, always happy, a dynamite kind of a kid," said neighbor Gregory Berdin.
Across Facebook and news websites Friday, people expressed shock.
"Hug your babies," wrote Redondo Beach resident Dawn Mack Gnadt. "A young boy was killed today while riding his bike in the Albertsons parking lot."
Lawndale resident Jennifer Bray said, "My heart goes out to the parents of that baby boy!"
"The only thing we can remember is he is in the safest arms ever right now," replied friend Janet Young.
On the NBC Los Angeles story, Facebook user David Lopez commented that Jeremy was his nephew and described the boy as "very outgoing [and] full of life."
"I will miss him so much," Lopez wrote.
"Jeremy was such a fun kid," Facebook user Yvonne Thomas Davis wrote in response to Lopez's post. "Sending prayers [and] hugs."
Cheyenne Figueroa posted on Redondo Beach Patch: "Jeremy I will miss you SO much; you were a really nice neighbor … Kickball with you was THE best."
"Jeremy, I will miss your smiling face, your welcoming me home from work, and sharing all the new things you learned that day … We love you," a woman identifying herself as April B commented.
Redondo Beach resident Teresa Pacheco may have summed it up best in her Facebook status update:
"May you Rest In Peace Jeremy Perez," she wrote.
