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Evelyn Rodriguez, whose 16-year-old daughter was murdered in September 2016, was hit by a car and killed on Friday before commemorating the second anniversary of her daughter's death.
The Suffolk County Police Department said Rodriguez, 50, was hit by a car around 4 pm in Brentwood, New York, after arguing with an SUV driver at the memorial site, New York Times.
The vigil was to be held near the exact spot where the bodies of her daughter, Kayla Cuevas, and the girlfriend of her daughter, Nisa Mickens, aged 15, were found. Four members of the MS-13 gang were charged with the deaths of the two men.
According to police, Rodriguez was hit by the vehicle while she was trying to leave, and the driver, whom the authorities did not name, remained on the scene and called 911, the Time reported. (The Suffolk County Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.)
Local news station News 12, who was present at the time to attend the vigil, then shared videos that seemed to show Rodriguez the driver. The point of sale then reported that following the confrontation, the SUV accelerated towards Rodriguez and knocked him down.
Evelyn Rodriguez
Michael Noble Jr. for the Washington Post via Getty
Rodriguez was pronounced dead after being taken to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, New York, according to the Time.
While the driver of the vehicle has not been arrested, the investigation is still ongoing, reported Fox News.
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After the death of Rodriguez, President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on social media.
"My thoughts and prayers are with Evelyn Rodriguez tonight, with her family and friends. #RIPEvelyn, he writes.
In addition to attending a forum on gang violence alongside the president in May, Rodriguez also attended Trump's first state of the union address in January, where Trump mentioned his daughter in his speech.
Suffolk County Attorney Tim Sini – who served as police commissioner at the time of the murder of Rodriguez's daughter – also mourned the loss of Rodriguez.
"Evelyn Rodriguez endured an indescribable tragedy when her daughter was murdered two years ago. As a parent, I can not imagine working after the loss of a child, but Evelyn has managed to turn this tragedy into a mission for good. She harvested her sorrow and used it as a catalyst for positive change on behalf of her community and on behalf of that country, "he wrote.
"Evelyn is one of the strongest people I have ever met in my life. I am proud to have worked with her and even more proud of having called a friend. I know I speak on behalf of everyone who has known Evelyn, saying that we are truly heartbroken by her loss, "he added.
In a statement to theTime, Sini said he was not able to comment on the investigation, but Rodriguez's death "had nothing to do with MS-13".
"It was not an MS-13 act, nor in coordination with the gang," he said.
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In addition, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also issued a statement on "the tragic loss" of Rodriguez, who remained a staunch supporter of gang violence "following the tragedy of his death. girl".
"I asked the state police to provide all the necessary assistance and resources to the Suffolk County Police Department as they investigated the circumstances surrounding Evelyn's death at the commemorative vigil. 'today,' he added.
New York State Representative Peter King, who was going to the vigil on Friday, said the incident occurred nearly an hour before the start of the ceremony, according to CBS New York.
"We talked to everyone all week on this," he told the point of sale. "I get a call from her friend who was with her and told me that there had been a horrible accident and that Evelyn had been knocked over by a car and that she was in trouble. very bad condition. "
In a separate remark shared with the Associated Press, King described Rodriguez's death as "tragedy out of all conviction."
"Everyone is in shock," he added. "What could happen more to a woman?"
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