Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Martha Rodriguez
Age : 72
Gender : Female
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 08/03/2024
Location : West 134th Street and Lenox Avenue (near 720 Lenox Avenue)
City : New York
County : Harlem
State : New York
Agency : New York City Police Department
Officer(s) :Not disclosed
Cause of Death : Beaten/bludgeoned
Event : Bystander killed during civilian foot chase in police presence
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/03/2024, 72-year-old Martha Rodriguez was walking near the intersection of West 134th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem when two men became involved in an altercation. According to police, one man armed with a sharp object chased the other along the sidewalk. The fleeing man collided with Rodriguez, knocking her to the ground. She struck her head on the pavement and suffered critical injuries. Rodriguez was transported to Harlem Hospital, where she died on 08/06/2024. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide. Rodriguez had worked for more than 28 years as a nurse practitioner at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After her death, her kidneys and liver were donated, saving the lives of three recipients. On 09/10/2024, the NYPD released surveillance images of the man alleged to have initiated the chase and asked the public for assistance identifying him. At the time of the public appeal, no arrests had been announced.
