Friends and family gathered Sunday at the very spot where a City College student was gunned down just five minutes before his 18th birthday. They lit candles hoping to shed some light on this unsolved case.
On November 23, 2007, Jose Luis Rodriguez, a Sweetwater High School graduate, was driving a friend home when he was shot and killed in front of a condo in the 400 block of Woodlawn Avenue in Chula Vista. Rodriguez was one of three victims of a South Bay shooting spree that night. Francisco Miranda was also killed. The other victim survived.
The vigil began with a prayer in both English and Spanish. A collage of photos showed Rodriguez’s bright smile next to a sign that read, “you will never be forgotten.”
“It’s been very hard for us. They took my parents only son and the only brother away from four sisters. It’s like one day you have something. The next day, they just take it away from you and it could happen to anybody,” said Jose’s sister, Veronica Rodriguez.
Chula Vista Police are seeking leads in the case and believe the shootings were random.
“They didn’t do it just for a reason, they weren’t looking for my brother, specifically trying to kill him. They were shooting randomly so it could be anybody else. It could be me tomorrow, it could be you, it could be anybody,” Rodriguez said.
Prior to the vigil family and friends distributed flyers seeking information on the case and publicizing a $51,000 reward. Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. The Governor’s Office is offering an award of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Rodriguez was a full-time college student and worked at Lincoln Acres Library for two years as a mentor to kids, helping them with their homework and with a nutrition program.
“He was my movie buddy. We would go to the movies every weekend. My brother was the sweetest kid ever and he would help us with anything we needed. He would walk our little sisters to and from school,” said Rodriguez.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or send a text or web tip to www.sdcrimestoppers.com. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
