Online Petition Seeks Justice for Evelyn Rodriguez

BRENTWOOD, NY - A Brentwood resident recently started an online petition seeking justice for Evelyn Rodriguez, who was killed when she was struck by car last month.

Rodriguez, the mother of a teen who authorities say was murdered by MS-13 gang members in 2016, died on Sept. 14 after being struck by an SUV while at a memorial service for her daughter in Brentwood.

According to Suffolk Police, Rodriguez was involved in a dispute on Ray Court, near Stahley Street, with the driver of a 2016 Nissan Rouge regarding the placement of a memorial dedicated to her daughter, 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas, and 15-year-old Nisa Mickens, who were murdered near the location on Sept. 13, 2016.

During the dispute, the driver, who is a relative of a resident of Ray Court, attempted to leave the scene and her SUV struck Rodriguez, police said.

Police have not said if they arrested the driver, who stayed at the scene, and did not released the identity of driver.

As a result, local resident Feride Castillo started the petition "Justice For Evelyn Rodriguez" on Change.org.

In the petition, Castillo is demanding justice for Rodriguez and for the identity of the driver, who she says is a woman, to be revealed.

"This woman, whose name has yet to be disclosed, took our warrior from us. To date, the Suffolk County Police Department has not made an arrest and no charges have been brought against this woman whose negligent behavior resulted in Evelyn's death," Castillo wrote. "We are demanding justice for Evelyn and calling on Suffolk County's County Executive, Steve Bellone, Police Commissioner, Geraldine Hart, and District Attorney, Timothy Sini, Esq. to make an arrest."

The petition is aiming to gather 1,000 signatures. As of Tuesday, the petition has received a total of 839 signatures.

Photo provided by the White House