“These are the times we’re living in? Where police officers are the ones we have to be afraid of?” asked activist Anthony Bryson on Sunday, where protestors gathered to demand the arrest of the school safety officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Mona Rodriguez.
Rodriguez died on Tuesday evening after being taken off life support, according to the Long Beach Post.
Rodriguez was shot in the head while in the passenger seat of a vehicle that was fleeing from a fight in a parking lot near Millikan High School on Sept. 27.
A video of the incident can be watched here.
The emotional crowd of about 25 protesters rallied outside of the Long Beach Police Department Headquarters as they chanted “no justice, no peace” and “justice for Mona”.
“This is an atrocity. This safety officer, who is not on school grounds … takes it upon himself to act as Mona’s judge and jury and executes her. It’s a crime and it needs to be treated as such,” said protest organizer Cliff Smith.
Rodriguez was the mother of a 5-month-old child.
“Mona was somebody’s sister, somebody’s happiness and Mona was a mother. She leaves behind a child that will never know his mother, will never hear her voice again and will only know her through the memories,” said protester Aurianna Tuttle.
Valerie Garcia, who claimed to be a family friend of Rodriguez, said a 15-year-old had harassed Rodriguez for three days leading up to the incident. The unidentified 15-year-old was involved in the fight with Rodriguez that day.
Rodriguez’s boyfriend, Rafael Chowdhury, was driving the vehicle attempting to flee the scene.
According to Najee Ali, who claimed to speak on behalf of the Chowdhury family, Rodriguez was fastening her seatbelt when the two gunshots were fired. Rodriguez then slumped over on Chowdhury’s shoulder.
“He (Chowdhury) said ‘baby are you okay?’ and there was no more response. I feel that she (Rodriguez) died right then and there,” said Garcia.
Long Beach Unified School District identified the school safety officer involved as Eddie F. Gonzalez, who was placed on paid leave after the incident occured.
LBUSD Superintendent of Schools Jill A. Baker announced Wednesday evening that the Board has unanimously decided to terminate Gonzalez’s employment.
The Long Beach police and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office are currently investigating the incident, according to the Long Beach Post.
Protesters called upon Los Angeles District Attorney, George Gascón, to prosecute Gonzalez.
Keyanna Celina, a protester at the rally faced a news camera and addressed Gascón, “Stop hiding behind all these progressive moves that we saw Jackie Lacey make as well. We want murder charges.”
Celina said, “Only you can deliver that justice in the form of those charges. Pick up your pen and get to work, District Attorney George Gascón.”
Protest organizer Smith is doubtful that Gascón will prosecute Gonzalez for his involvement in the shooting.
“He campaigned last year on a promise to hold police accountable for crimes against the community. He has yet to do it. We’re very disappointed in him, but we’ll continue mobilizing and organizing in our community to hold his feet to the fire,” said Smith.
Meanwhile, Ali believes the opposite will happen and predicts Gascón will prosecute Gonzalez “without question”.
“Everyone saw the video. The video did not lie. The officer’s life was not in jeopardy, and clearly, the shooting was out of policy,” said Ali.