Teen Charged with Murder in NYC Subway Security Guard Slaying
A 17-year-old faces murder charges for the fatal shooting of a security guard in a Midtown Manhattan subway station.
Authorities have charged a 17-year-old with murder in connection with the death of security guard Darrel Rodriguez, 26, who was shot on a crowded subway platform in Midtown Manhattan earlier this month. The suspect is accused of shooting Rodriguez in the chest at the Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street station on Oct. 17, then fleeing the scene.
The accused killer surrendered to police with his attorney on Thursday. He faces charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a loaded weapon.
Sources indicated that the shooting stemmed from a dispute between the teen and Rodriguez, although they did not know each other prior to the incident.
Rodriguez, who resided in the Bronx, worked as a security guard at a Manhattan building. His neighbors and relatives described him as a "beautiful kid" who cared for his ailing father. He had two brothers, one of whom is serving in the military in Texas. He was also remembered as a gym enthusiast and a devoted family man.
