Evelyn Rodriguez, 50, mother of 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas, a teenager who was killed by MS-13 gang members on Long Island in 2016 along with her friend Nisa Mickens; has died.
Rodriguez, who had become an advocate for strong border security and a staunch critic of illegal immigration, had met with President Donald Trump in May to help push his agenda in those areas.
Rodriguez was hit by a vehicle on Friday afternoon as she was preparing for a candlelight vigil to honor her child whose body was found two years ago.
The New York mom got into a tense exchange with a woman driving a white vehicle over the location of the memorial. The anti-gang activist was accompanied by a man during the heated argument, and the two of them were standing in front of the SUV.
The female in the 2016 Nissan Rogue decided to speed off and fatally struck Rodriguez. The tragic incident occurred around 4 p.m. in Brentwood. Rodriguez was then taken to the Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, and that is where she died.
After the sad news broke, Trump tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers are with Evelyn Rodriguez this evening, along with her family and friends. #RIPEvelyn.”
Trump invited her to the State of the Union Address in January, and she made sure to insist that her involvement in parts of his agenda was not political.
She had stated: “I want him to ensure that we’re going to get the proper funding for the resources for our kids. I’m not here for anybody’s political gain. I just want what’s right to be done. Everybody should put their political agenda aside and think about what’s going on in our country.”
A video showing bits of the tragic event has found its way online and is sure to raise many questions about what led to all of this.
Although the driver was not arrested, a homicide unit is investigating the incident.
