Community looking for answers after father of four is shot and killed on Cross Bronx Expressway

Marcus Solis Image
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Community mourn father of four killed in Cross Bronx fatal shooting
A father of four is being remembered by a local community in the Bronx just days after he was senselessly gunned down in a road rage incident. Marcus Solis has the story.

FORDHAM HEIGHTS, The Bronx (WABC) -- A father of four is being remembered by a local community in the Bronx just days after he was senselessly gunned down in a road rage incident.

Police responded to a 911 call at around 10 p.m. on Friday and found a man shot on the Cross Bronx Expressway.

The 40-year-old victim was found near the scene of a vehicle collision on the southbound section of the expressway.

That man was Fausto Rodriguez, who was an auto shop worker.

The incident began when Rodriguez was rear ended by a White Ford Edge.

Police say the driver of the Ford fled the scene on foot, only to return in a short time later in a grey Toyota Rav4 with Florida license plates. Another male was driving that vehicle.

Rodriguez, who was waiting for police, started recording the encounter on his cell phone. According to the footage, the suspect appeared angry that he was being recorded.

Rodriguez was later shot and pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital.

"I still can't believe it to this day right now, said Anaielis Ozuna, who worked with Rodriguez. "He was such a sweet person. So many sweet people get taken away from us so fast."

Ozuna worked with the victim at Xtreme Auto Body, where there's a memorial for the single father of four.

Three of Rodriguez's children lived with him in the Bronx - a fourth is in Santo Domingo.

The 21-year-old driver of that Rav4 voluntarily spoke with detectives at the 46th Precinct on Wednesday, claiming he had been asked by an acquaintance to help retrieve paperwork from the crash site - and had no idea what was about to happen.

The gunman is still at large.

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