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Teen dies after jumping on iPhone thief’s car

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cousin Gustavo Allende, left, mother Marisol Hernandez, center, and father Pablo Rubio speak to the press about homicide victim Rubi Rubio during a press conference at the Santa Ana Police Department Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Santa Ana, Calif. Rubi Rubio, 15, died of her injuries Saturday, July 5, 2014, two days after she jumped onto the speeding car of a robber who snatched her iPhone, and detectives are asking for the public's help in finding two suspects. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Foster Snell) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: teen.homicide Ð 7/8/14 Ð FOSTER SNELL, - Press conference at the Santa Ana Police Department for homicide victim Rubi Rubio. Marisol Hernandez: mom. Pablo Rubio: dad. Gustavo Allende: cousin.

SANTA ANA, Calif. >> A 15-year-old Southern California girl died of her injuries two days after she jumped onto the speeding car of a robber who snatched her iPhone, and detectives are asking for the public’s help in finding two suspects.

Rubi Rubio briefly held onto the trunk of the car before falling off and hitting her head last Thursday in Santa Ana, Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna told the Orange County Register.

"According to witnesses, the vehicle was swerving in an attempt to get her off," Bertagna said.

Rubio, a student at Godinez Fundamental High School, died from her injuries on Saturday while surrounded by her family at a hospital, the newspaper said.

"She opened her eyes, looked at me for like five seconds and said, ‘Mom,’" Marisol Hernandez told reporters through tears Tuesday as she talked about seeing her daughter at the hospital. "That was the last word I heard from her."

Investigators said the man took the phone from the teen while she was walking her 7-year-old sister home from school. He ran to the car, which was driven by another person, with Rubio giving chase.

The iPhone was later found by a resident not far from the scene of the robbery.

Bertagna described the vehicle as a light gray or silver Pontiac.

Anyone with information about the robber or the driver was asked to call Santa Ana detectives.

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