Two charged in Marine's hit-and-run death appear in Wake County courtroom
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Two people charged in the fatal hit-and-run of young Marine faced a judge for the first time Monday afternoon.
Joseph Passalinqua, 32, of Raleigh, was given a $25,000 bond while Kathleen Capece, 32, also of Raleigh, was given a $15,000 bond.
Just before 10 p.m. Friday, Raleigh police responded to a hit-and-run on Glenwood Avenue. When they arrived, they found Lance Cpl. Nathan Bizzell, 20, of Camp Lejeune had been hit by a car.
Police say Bizzell was heading west when he hit another vehicle from behind, just past Brier Creek. When he got out to survey the damage, he was hit by another car and was killed. Police say Passalinqua was that driver. They say he ran away on foot.
Police later tracked him down and charged him with felony hit-and-run involving death.
Capece was also in that car and is listed as the car's owner. Police say she also ran away and is charged with aid and abet felony hit-an-run involving death.
Both will face a judge again on July 20th.
According to Bizzell's obituary, he's from Granville County. He was serving on active duty with the United States Marine Corps, 2nd Marines, 2nd Division, Fox Company as a 0311 Rifleman. He was also on the All Marine Wrestling Team and had been wrestling since he was eight-years-old. In fact, he was in town training young wrestlers.
Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Clements Funeral Chapel in Durham. Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday at the same location from 6 to 8 p.m.
Flowers are welcome as are memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project.
