Cousin Raising Money For Family Of Mom Killed At 7-Eleven

NYACK, NY — A cousin of Melissa Castillo DeLoatch, who died Wednesday in a rage incident that police are calling murder, has started a campaign to raise money for DeLoatch's family.

"Melissa’s life was taken by an aggressive driver that ran her and her children over at a 7-11 in Garneville, NY," Adrienne Rodriguez wrote on the GoFundMe campaign "In Memory Of Melissa." "Melissa did what any mother would have done and tried to protect her children. She was a true hero."

Rodriguez said all funds would go towards her burial and the care of her children, three of whom were still hospitalized and the other three will need to see more doctors.

The man accused of getting into his car and ramming the family of eight outside the 7-Eleven because the father asked him to stop smoking near the kids has been identified by the media as Jason Mendez of Washingtonville in Orange County.

The 35-year-old not only plowed into them but then ran them down again, police said.

All were hospitalized; DeLoatch died of her injuries.

When police confronted him minutes later he was brandishing a knife, they said. He failed to comply with the officers' commands to drop it. They tased, subdued, and took him into custody. He is charged with murder and attempted murder.

The fundraising campaign has raised $4,147 of its $20,000 goal in 10 hours.

GoFundMe is a Patch partner.

SEE:

• Driver Accused Of Fatally Plowing Into Family Is Hudson Valley Resident
• Driver Rams Family Twice, Kills Mom After 7-11 Argument: Police