News 12 Digital is highlighting the most-viewed stories of 2018 as part of our 'News 12's Most-Viewed' series. This story on the death of the mother of an MS-13 victim was first published on Sept. 14. Original story below.
The mother of a Brentwood teenager who was brutally murdered by MS-13 was killed Friday after she was run over by a driver during a confrontation just before a candlelight vigil honoring her daughter’s memory.
The incident occurred on Stahley Street Friday afternoon, exactly two years from when Nisa Mickens, 15, and Kayla Cuevas, 16, were
beaten and stabbed to death.
News 12 was on site before the incident to cover a candlelight vigil planned for the evening. News 12 was told that a memorial to the two girls was set up in front of a home, when a homeowner came out and started to dismantle it.
News 12 cameras were rolling when Evelyn Rodriguez and a man were confronting a female driver in an SUV. It appeared that Rodriguez and the man were yelling at the driver. The man is seen pushing the car.
It was then that the car accelerated and ran over Evelyn Rodriguez. Police say she was transported to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, where she was pronounced dead.
Rep. Peter King, who had been working with Rodriguez on a campaign ad, told News 12 that her death is "almost too tragic to be real."
Rep. King lauded Rodriguez as an advocate against gang violence in the community.
"It's too much to believe that so much bad could happen to one good person," Rep. King told News 12.
Police say the driver stayed at the scene and that no charges have been filed at this time.