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Family, Detectives Look To Public For Help In Solving Cold Case Murder

Posted at 6:47 PM, Jul 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-26 19:47:14-04

Two months after a Nashville man was murdered, family and police have asked for the public's help in finding whoever is responsible.

Maria Rodriguez, 32, spoke with the help of an interpreter, Sergeant Rafael Fernandez for the interview. She was quite nervous, but had the courage to speak about her late father, Vicente Rodriguez.

"He was a good worker, good father," she said. 

The 58-year-old spent his days working for her brothers, the family relied on his support. However, one day in late May a routine visit after work to a local food market on Plus Park Blvd would be his last.

"That what she needs to know, what happened to her father," Fernandez said. 

It was just before 9:30 p.m. the night of May, 19. Detectives believe he was walking home with some groceries when someone approached him.

"Something occurred, words were exchanged we're just not sure. Witnesses that we have are a great distance away," explained lead detective, Desmond Sumerel. 

Six gun shots rang out, Rodriguez was hit four times and left to die in the road.

"It's not just, what happened to him, it's not right," said Maria. 

Detectives have very little to go on and aren't even sure if the attack was a crime of opportunity. Sumerel said, "it may have been personal, I'm not sure. A possible statement was heard, maybe, 'do you remember me?'"

However, witnesses were able to give a description of the vehicle the suspect fled in, a late 90's gold Nissan Maxima with a silver rear bumper.

Detectives hope someone will come forward with vital information. "Maria calls me weekly. I hate to get her call because I hate not being able to tell her something new, it bothers me a little bit," Sumerel said. 

Meanwhile a family is left wondering, why him. "We need him a lot," said Maria. "I'm praying that this does help."