New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Mom: ‘I was so, so proud of him’
Angel Rodriguez, city’s 7th homicide victim this year, honored at vigil
NEW HAVEN — Angel Rodriguez lived with passion and drive, a smile that delighted his family, a will to succeed that got him down the stairs of a second-floor apartment each day, despite a disease that caused numbness and weak
ness in his legs, and out into the world to support his loved ones.
Rodriguez, 21, was found dead near Farnum Drive and Orange Street Monday morning. Police have deemed his death a homicide, the seventh of the year in New Haven.
Families and friends gathered in his honor Saturday on the Mill River, near where his body was found. There were hugs and tears; smoke and revving bikes. People lit candles, illuminating pictures of Rodriguez. As the sunlight faded, they let balloons loose, watching as they floated into the distance.
Jannette Ayala Ruis, his mother, said Rodriguez was a “humble, responsible kid,” an entrepreneur at heart. He had Charcot-Marie-Tooth, a condition that causes nerve damage and muscle weakness, she said. Despite that, he always had a smile and an irrepressible spirit.
“What do you feel (about the loss)? You feel anger; you feel a lot of emotions. Everybody keeps asking me how I’m standing,” said Ruis. “I was so proud of him; I was so, so proud of him.”
His aunt, Vilmarie Ayala, said in a statement that Rodriguez was a “a go getter.” He wanted to create a T-shirt business based on his logo, christened “Broke No More.” He had just started working as a security guard for Amazon; he ran a power-washing business on the side.
“(T)his is so painful and heart breaking knowing that I’ll never get see him or hear his sweet voice ever again,” Ayala said.
Rodriguez had shared a birthday, April 9, with her sister, Ayala said. It “will be so lonely without him” this year, she said, noting he was “always full of life and a beautiful smile.”
Samantha Torres had a child, Angel Jr., with Rodriguez. She said she sees Angel in her son when he plays the drums — both loved that as children.
Rodriguez was his own man, Torres said. He would always help her with her hair; he would wake her each day, telling her to go out and grind; he was always laughing, dancing, joking with the baby, rapping. They met as children; got together after high school. They had opened up to one another; he became her best friend.
“It’s unbelievable that this happened. It’s really unbelievable,” said Torres. “I’m still trying to believe that we’re here, and he’s going to come (up to me) ... He was my world. That was my best friend.”
Rodriguez loved his son, Torres said. He had no hesitation about being a dad. She still feels lost without him.
“He was a great person, super funny, super responsible,” said Torres. “I don’t want to believe that I’m here . ... You don’t move on from this. You don’t move on from this . ... he’ll live forever. That’s my baby.”
Clarimar Arce, his cousin, said Rodriguez brought so much positivity to life that you couldn’t possibly hate him. They’d fight; she’d try to get him to do what
she wanted. He couldn’t be dissuaded; Rodriguez was the leader, never the follower, she said.
“He used to carry his son, in the car seat, up and down the stairs, one arm on the railing. Nobody could tell him anything,” said Arce. “I could never tell Angel about anything . ... I looked up to him. I loved my cousin. I loved him a lot . ... I want (people) to know how strong he was, how determined he was, how motivated he was. He was smart; he was motivated; he had drive, and nothing ever stopped him.”
Since he’s been gone, Arce said she’s felt like each day is a dream. In life, Rodriguez would always return her texts and calls, no matter how mad he was; now, they go unanswered.
Rodriguez joins the list of people slain so far this year in New Haven. Alfreda Youmans, Jeffery Dotson, Jorge Osorio-Caballero, Marquis Winfrey, Joseph Mattei and Kevin Jiang have also been taken before their time.
Ruis, noting the violence in the city, called on residents to help young people find something
to do, so that they can avoid a violent path, and called on parents to better communicate with and watch over their children. Schools have been closed during the pandemic, she said. She started working at 16; those opportunities aren’t there for young people now.
“There’s been an uptick (in violence) like crazy. And everybody keeps saying, it’s going to get worse, it’s going to get worse. Well, we can’t let it get worse. We, as people, we, this community — we’re the ones that can make a difference,” said Ruis.
“Not only get them back to school, get them motivated to do something.”
Rodriguez’s family, like others before them, demanded justice for their loved one, gone before his time.
“I think right now what’s keeping me going is wanting justice for him. And then after we find out who, what, when and why, that’s when it’s really going to hurt; that’s when it’s really going to hit,” said Arce.
“Justice, please. Justice. We pray every night for justice,” said Ristorucci.
Sgt. Shayna Kendall asked anyone with information about Rodriguez’s death to contact the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at 203-946-6304. Tips and all information can be provided anonymously.