Mother speaks after son found fatally beaten in Dumbo housing building
Detectives are still working to determine what happened. Police said the victim was found unresponsive with trauma to the head.
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Police say a 40-year-old man was found with head trauma inside a supportive housing building in Dumbo early Monday, officials said.
A security guard at 90 Sands St., a building operated by Breaking Ground for people who were formerly homeless, called 911 shortly before 6 a.m., police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family identified the victim as Chan Rodriguez, a father of three.
“I brought him into this world. Who are they to take him out?” Maria Goitia, his mother, said.
Goitia said her son had moved into supportive housing hoping for a fresh start.
“His kids loved him. Every time they see him their face lights up,” Goitia said. "He was always trying to get himself together,” she added.
She said she often warned him to be careful.
“I just told him, ‘Papi, be safe. Please take care of yourself and be careful with the people you hang out with,’” Goitia said. "My son, he’s very free. He trusts everybody… I told him, ‘Papi, you cannot trust everybody,’” she said.
Detectives are still working to determine what happened. Police said the victim was found unresponsive with trauma to the head.
“I need peace. I need clarity. I want to know why did they bash my son’s head to death?” Goitia said.
Goitia said she is awaiting the autopsy and trying to plan her son’s funeral.
“I’m praying that I could get some funds to help me bury him… just to give him a proper burial because he deserves that,” she said.
