Tribute to Michael Rodriguez

January 22, 2013 By brady Leave a Comment

Fifteen years ago in Tampa, Florida on December 19, 1996, my 17 year old UNARMED son, Michael G. Rodriguez was murdered by a man carrying an illegal handgun. He committed a murder, but he was never charged…

My son Michael approached an unmarked car in a South Tampa neighborhood and was murdered by a Domino’s pizza deliveryman, Clifford Jordan, who claimed afterward that our son threatened to rob him. Jordan, who was inside his unmarked vehicle fired and killed Michael within five seconds after our son approached the car. My son was unarmed, sober and had no criminal record.

It was the same kind of fear and hate-filled tragedy that we see in the Trayvon Martin murder in Sanford, Fl Even though the Stand Your Ground Law was not yet in place, the Tampa Police Department and the State Attorney’s office honored the Shoot First mindset.

We must end the senseless tragedies of gun violence that has consumed our country. We must support and enforce strong sensible gun laws to end the massacres. If not now, when? You or yours could be the next victim

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