State police are investigating the murder of 42-year-old man who was killed over the weekend at a home in Monticello.
The victim was identified by authorities as Jose Rodriguez. Police say he was murdered at a multifamily residence on Lakewood Avenue.
Neighbors say police were seen at the home over the weekend for two days and had the road closed off during the investigation. Multiple people in the area reached out to News 12 asking for information about what happened.
“They came here knocking on doors. Roadblocks, taped off and what not,” says neighbor Dave Travis.
So far, police are remaining tight lipped, but say the victim was a Monticello resident.
“I’ve been here 15 years,” says one woman who lives nearby. “This was sad.”
Police haven’t said how Rodriguez was killed – only that his death is under investigation as a homicide.
“We were hoping and praying. It all looked bad anyway,” says Travis. “We were praying because it’s a lot of overdoses around this area.”
Neighbors say they’re surprised by the violence and that up until police showed arrived, everything seemed as usual.
“I walked by an hour before they shut down everything and there was a bunch of kids playing on the porch and then an hour later all of this happened,” Davis says.
State police say Monticello police and the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office are also investigating. Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call state police in Liberty at 845-292-0280.