'It's a tragic thing that took him from us': Victim of Winston-Salem crash taken off life support

Right now, a teenager is facing a murder charge after leading Forsyth County deputies on a chase last week. Investigators say the 16-year-old was going so fast that deputies had to stop their pursuit. The teen later crashed into a 61-year-old man who was simply driving to an eye doctor appointment. Robert Marcis' family says they're heartbroken and are now grieving a loss they never saw coming."He's, he's gonna be greatly missed, and it's a tragic thing that took him from us," said his cousin.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here His cousin, Shawn Marcis-Beam, told WXII the family made the difficult decision to remove him from life support yesterday after doctors said the brain injuries he suffered in the crash were just too severe to overcome. Shawn said if you knew Robert, or 'Bob' as he was known to friends and family, you loved him. He was a man with a passion for working with his hands. However, more than that, he was one of the humblest people you could meet."He was very perseverant," said Shawn. "Sometimes he'd come across as a little unemotional or grouchy, but for the most part, everybody got along with him, and everybody liked him."On June 18, Bob was on his way to an eye exam, she said, when his car was hit at the intersection of Germanton Road and Patterson Avenue by 16-year-old Eleazar Medina, who authorities say was trying to get away from Forsyth County deputies."His best friend was the first one to find out about it," said Shawn, "because he was driving home from work, and he thought, 'Oh, that looks like Bob's car,' and yeah, it was." Because of his passing, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office says 16-year-old Eleazar Medina— who was already being charged as an adult — is now also facing a second-degree murder charge. Medina was already facing 8 other charges in connection with last Thursday's now fatal crash along Patterson Avenue. That includes assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, felony hit and run, reckless driving, and operating a vehicle without a license. An arrest warrant WXII obtained states Medina reached speeds of more than 100 mph in a 55-mph zone before the crash.Subscribe to WXII's free YouTube channel here After learning of Marcis' death, Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said in part:"Our condolences and our prayers are with the family of Robert Anthony Marcis. As always, the FCSO treats harmful conditions and threats to our community with the fullest extent of the law."Bob's injuries were so serious that his family had to make a heart-wrenching choice: take him off life support."Bob's brain had so much injury and trauma to it that it's something that a 15 or 16-year-old might be able to make some recovery from, but not a 61-year-old," said Shawn. "If he ever woke up, he would not have any quality of life. He would have to have been in a long-term care facility. He'd have to have a feeding tube, and Bob would not have wanted that."But even after he's passed, Bob is still helping others: his family has decided to donate his organs."To my understanding, we'll get a list soon of how many of his organs were used and what they were used for, and how many people were helped," Shawn explained. "He's not going to want any recognition for it, but it gives us some comfort to know that he'll live on." Medina's next court date is set for July 9 in Forsyth County for his original eight charges. A spokesperson with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office says it's possible his new charge might also be addressed then.Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.Medina's mother, 35-year-old Adilene Calleja, is also being charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and allowing an unlicensed driver. She was initially being held in Forsyth County Detention Center under a Department of Homeland Security immigration detainer, and WXII is working to get answers if she's still being held there or is being moved elsewhere.