An 18-year-old mother left brain dead after being shot by a Long Beach school safety officer has been taken off life support, her family announced on the GoFundMe on Saturday, Oct.2.
Mona Rodriguez, the mother of a 5-month-old boy, was shot on Sept. 27, by a school safety officer near Millikan High School in Long Beach, California.
Eddie F. Gonzalez was driving near the school when he pulled over to break up a fight between Rodriquez and another teenager.
When she tried to flee the scene in the passenger seat of a sedan, the safety officer approached the car and banged on the window before firing two shots as it sped past him and through a parking lot.
She was riding with her child’s father, Rafeul Chowdhury, and Chowdhury’s brother, Shahriear Chowdhury.
The teen mother was shot in the back of the head.
Rafeul Chowdhury said the officer made no warnings before opening fire.
"All we did is just got in the car and left," he said Wednesday. "He never told us to stop anytime soon, and the way he shot us, it wasn’t right."
She remained in critical condition at Long Beach Medical Center last week. Family members said doctors told them she was brain dead.
She was removed from life support and her organs have been donated, her loved ones said.
"With a heavy heart I want to let you guys know that our beautiful Mona passed away on September 29," they wrote.
"Her immediate family has also decided that they will be donating her organs to those in need because that’s what Mona would’ve wanted."
Following the incident, the school safety officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation.
But the victim’s family is calling for justice and wants the officer involved to be arrested and prosecuted.
"I just want some justice for my sister, and for my mom too, because she’s suffering a lot," Rodriguez’s brother, Oscar Rodriguez, said Friday.
They are now urging California’s attorney general to open an investigation into the shooting.
"This officer had no business carrying a badge and gun," Luis Carrillo, an attorney for Rodriguez’s family, said.
"She was no imminent threat when this criminal officer went boom."
The school safety officer had only been on the job for months.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.