The mother of a girl from Long Island was reportedly killed by a driver: the police

Evelyn Rodriguez, Long Island's mother turned anti-gang activist after her 16-year-old daughter was killed in the attack on suspected members of the MS-13 gang, was fatally hit by a driver while she was "deadly". she was preparing a vigil to mark the anniversary of the death of her daughter, police and friends say.

Rodriguez was hit by the vehicle on Stahley Street in Brentwood on Friday afternoon, Suffolk police said. She was taken to Southside Hospital, Bay Shore, where she was pronounced dead.

A friend of Rodriguez, Sammy Gonzalez, told News 4 New York that she was preparing the vigil to mark the anniversary of the assassination of her daughter Kayla Cuevas when she was on the run.

It is not known yet if anyone is in detention.

Rodriguez's daughter, Kayla, and her 15-year-old friend, Nisa Mickens, were killed on September 13, 2016. The two girls, the best friends, were walking about an hour after sunset on September 13, when four members gang jumped car and killed them with baseball bats and a machete, authorities say.

Prosecutors said Ms. Kayla was targeted because of ongoing disputes with gang members at her school. They said her old friend, Nisa, was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Rodriguez became the face of a grieving community on Long Island, desperate to get rid of the violence brought on by MS-13. Rodriguez was invited to Trump's State of the Union address this year, while he advocated a national crackdown on gang violence.

Rodriguez told The New York Times at the time that she was honored to be invited.

"I'm not here for anyone's political gain," Rodriguez said. "I just want it to be well done, everyone should put their political agenda aside and think about what is happening in our country."

In a statement to News 4, Suffolk district attorney Tim Sini said, "Evelyn Rodriguez endured an indescribable tragedy when her daughter was murdered two years ago. Imagine turning 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 this country," he continued. "She was a strong supporter of her hometown of Brentwood and she was fearless in her fight to end MS-13-induced violence to ensure that other parents never endure the pain. that she suffered.

"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 to have called her a friend. I know I speak for all those who knew Evelyn by saying heartbroken by her loss, "said Sini.

Additional report by Greg Cergol

Copyright Associated Press