Posted: Wednesday, May 4, 2022. 6:13 pm CST.
Photo Credit: Rodriguez Family
By Rubén Morales Iglesias:
Elisandro Manuel Rodriguez, father of Chris Rodriguez who died early on Wednesday morning after being stabbed multiple times at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio on Tuesday, says his family has been hit hard.
“Life is hitting us very hard with a second loss, it was hard for Chris and his two sisters to keep on living life after losing their mom,” said Elisandro Manuel Rodriguez, Chris’ father in reference to his wife and Chris’ mother Daisy Miralda being murdered six years ago at a beauty salon in Santa Elena along with Manuel’s sister Miriam ‘Betty’ Mai.
“Chris was mentally strong to overcome that pain and used it to make himself a better person and make his mom proud. He checked in on his sister after school, no one ever complained about him,” said Manuel Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said his 18-year-old son did not drink nor smoke; that he was all into sports and wanted to make it into the Belize Premier League.
“He was trying to prove that regardless of his mother not being here he was going to be somebody in life and be great at soccer. He loved when people would tell him that they were proud of him. Regardless of all he went through, he was becoming a great person and a good soccer player. He was a much better man than I ever was at his age, and I will always be proud of him,” said Manuel Rodriguez.
In his short life, Chris Rodriguez played for local teams Santa Elena United and World FC.
His cousin Alexandria Rodriguez said Chris used to help his father Manuel, who is a jockey, in taking care of his horses.
Chris Rodriguez went to Faith Nazarene Primary School in San Ignacio and graduated from St Ignatius High School in Santa Elena in 2021.
“Chris was murdered because the GOVERNMENT implemented a fee to play on the field and he did not have a receipt of payment,” said Deyanie Rodriguez in a social media post in which she complained that Chris’ mother’s and aunt’s murders had not been properly dealt with yet.
“Do you know what it’s like for a single father to be taking care of three kids all on his own after his wife was murdered?” she asked.
Chris had two sisters, Stephanie and Jasmine, and a younger brother, Elisandro Manuel Jr.
“TODAY we mourn the loss of Chris, after losing his mom he thrived like no other kid in our family,” Deyanie added.
On Tuesday, Chris Rodriguez had gone to the Norman Broaster Stadium to train along with 17-year-old cousin Keon Rodriguez where he had an altercation with the caretaker regarding fees for the use of the stadium. Police reports said the caretaker told the two Rodriguez youths to leave since they hadn’t paid any fees. They were reportedly leaving when the altercation, during which the caretaker allegedly stabbed Chris Rodriguez multiple times and chased him inside the stadium, occurred.
When police arrived shortly after 6:00 pm, they found Chris Rodriguez on the ground and bleeding profusely from his wounds. He was taken to the San Ignacio Community Hospital and subsequently to the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan where he died early this morning while receiving treatment.
The police detained the caretaker who was also taken to the San Ignacio Community Hospital for medical attention due to a ‘burst’ lip.
The Rodriguez family are planning a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening from the Rodriguez residence at 89 George Price Avenue in Santa Elena to the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio via the Hawkesworth Bridge.
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