Joshua Rodriguez, 20
July 6, 2008 | 11:00
am
Joshua Rodriguez, 20, Latino man was fatally shot during a fight at Mulberry Drive and Ruoff Avenue in an unincorporated area of south Whittier about 1:49 p.m. Wednesday, July 23.
According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, the Rodriguez got into an argument with another man, who belonged to a rival tagging crew. They began fighting. The other man pulled out a handgun and fired several shots, hitting Rodriguez in the upper torso. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Anyone with information can call the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Callers can remain anonymous.
-ruben vives/LAT
He was airlifted to St Francis Hospital in Lynwood due to his serious injuries and died enroute.
Posted by: KMB | July 28, 2008 at 09:38 AM
WHY WAS THIS MAN TAKEN TO ST FRANCIS? WAS IT CAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY LOCAL GENERAL HOSPITAL? HE WASNT ABLE TO GET TREATED AT A NEARBY WHITTIER HOSPITAL???? WTF?
Posted by: Cindy | July 28, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Cindy,
The man had several gunshot wounds that required a level of service available only at a trauma center. Whittier has two hospitals (WHMC & PIH) within its limits, neither of which is properly equipped nor properly staffed to treat such wounds. The nearest trauma center that is equipped and staffed to treat these types of wounds is St. Francis. Thus, he was airlifted to St. Francis. Why are you so wound up over this? Oh, and just FYI, St. Francis is a privately owned and operated hospital, not a part of the county's "general hospital" program.
Posted by: CP | July 28, 2008 at 03:27 PM
When the decision is taken to airlift someone a number of factors come into play. The closest ER may be full and closed. The injuries may be so severe that the closest hospital may not have the necessary members of a trauma team available in time, or they may be operating on someone else. Blame the politicians for dismantling a system of trauma centers that used to cover the county. They would have on site trauma teams ready to go. Not any more.
Posted by: KMB | July 29, 2008 at 12:26 AM
sosad
Posted by: sadappy | August 06, 2008 at 05:53 PM
I MISS MY LITTLE BROTHER SOOO MUCH. WHO EVER DID THIS JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED! GOD GIVETH LIFE AND TAKETH AWAY NOT THE COWARDS THAT DID THIS. REMEMBER IF YOU LIVE BY THE GUN YOU WILL DIE BY THE GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: EDWARD RODRIGUEZ JR. | August 22, 2008 at 04:51 PM
We are the ones to blame for the lack of trauma centers. Many people use these centers and the emergency rooms for regular doctor visits and are unable to pay the bill. Therefore these centers close because lack of funding. In reality you think you may be "cheating the system" in reality we are only cheating ourselves. It is sad to think that we could've possibly had a trauma center closer and a precious life could've been saved.
Posted by: Just some info | August 25, 2008 at 02:17 AM
they shooter was a brother of a 14 yr old " lil oozie" who goes to cal high. the man who killed josh fleed to mexico that day. left a white altima with tinted windows, later tooken by police,
"TO ALL OF YOU JUDGING JOSH!!"
EXCUSE THE RUMORS!! "josh" didnt deserve to die.
he WAS NOT A TAGGER! he tagged previously but was NOT a tagger! YES HE HAD 2 felony arrests in last recent weeks, 1 misdemeanor arrest, JOSH WAS TRYNING TO GET HIS SHxxT TOGTHER<3 josh loved the word of god,made friends EVERYWHERE he'd go. THE REASON TO WHICH WHY HE WAS FIGHTING, was to back up his FRIENDS.PHD (pot head krew). if you have nothing NICE TO SAY DONT SAY IT PEOPLE. let him r.i.p if you didn't know him "personally" SAVE YOUR JUDGMENTS UNLESS YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAN!
josh theres so much i have to say,but now i cant. i can't believe your gone..i keep thinking this is all a dream but then again everything happends for a reason,i know your in a better place watching over all of us.i hope all these kids learn from this!!WHY DID YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THIER DUES.??i ask my self that question..."why you"dont worry thier karma is leaking...WHAT C0MES AR0UND G0ES AR0UND" AND WHEN IT C0MES AR0UND ITS GUNNA HIM HARD...KARMA Will D0 Him TWICE AS W0rSe I know if you had one REAL friend there you'd still be here chillin with us in our backyard laughing.i know one day ill get to see that awsome smile again.i love you Josh &; you will forever be in our hearts<3
Posted by: jazmine monreal | September 06, 2008 at 02:36 AM
If this article was published on July, then why does it say that he died on July 23? That is 17 days after the article was published.
Posted by: Joshua Rodriguez | October 05, 2009 at 06:12 AM