A cop who was charged with the murder of an 18-year-old teen mother has just walked free.
But there’s a lot to this story…
At a glance:
- Former school cop Eddie Gonzalez was sentenced to three years in jail for the 2021 shooting of 18-year-old Manuela ‘Mona’ Rodriguez, but walked free due to time already served.
- Rodriguez, a teen mother, was shot in the head as she fled a fight in a car near Millikan High School in Long Beach, California.
- Rodriguez’s family expressed outrage at the verdict, seeking justice for her death.
Eddie Gonzalez, a former school safety officer in California, has been sentenced to three years in jail for fatally shooting 18-year-old Manuela ‘Mona’ Rodriguez in 2021. However, Gonzalez was released immediately after the sentencing, having already served his time in custody. The case, which drew significant public attention after a video of the incident surfaced online, has left Rodriguez’s grieving family devastated, with many feeling justice was not served.
The tragic shooting occurred on September 27, 2021, near Millikan High School in Long Beach. Rodriguez, who was not enrolled at the school at the time, was involved in a fight with a 15-year-old girl. As the altercation escalated, Rodriguez attempted to flee the scene in a vehicle driven by her boyfriend, Rafeul Chowdhury. Gonzalez, who was on duty as a school safety officer, fired at the car, hitting Rodriguez in the back of the head.
Rodriguez was declared brain dead shortly after the shooting and was taken off life support days later. Her family, including her five-month-old son, was left shattered by the loss. In a heartbreaking turn, Rodriguez’s organs were donated to save five other lives.
After the shooting, Gonzalez was charged with murder, but jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. In August 2023, he pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, resulting in a reduced sentence. The murder charge was dismissed, and the manslaughter conviction allowed Gonzalez to walk free due to time already served.
Here’s a news report from the time he was charged:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5hr_MVlTSk
Rodriguez’s family was outraged by the outcome. Her mother, Manuela Sahagun, expressed her deep sorrow, saying that the pain of losing her daughter “will never go away.” Her brother, Oscar, voiced his frustration, saying the killing of his sister had destroyed his dream of becoming a police officer. Chowdhury, who was driving the car at the time of the shooting, called for justice, lamenting that Rodriguez, the mother of his child, was taken from him far too soon.
Gonzalez’s supporters, including his friend Randy George, defended his actions in court, describing him as a man who had only wanted to help people in his law enforcement role. However, critics argue that Gonzalez’s actions were reckless and unjustified, leading to the tragic and unnecessary death of a young mother.
The case has left a lasting impact on the Long Beach community, as many continue to question the use of force by school safety officers.
