In an horrific incident in Manhattan, Shirley Rodriguez was brutally attacked outside her Washington Heights home by an assailant who allegedly lay in wait for her. Rodriguez named her recently separated boyfriend, Tyquan Jemmott, as her assailant before her death.
Accusation Against the Ex-Boyfriend
The 29-year-old victim identified her ex-boyfriend as her attacker with her life slowly slipping away, according to family members and police officials. The harrowing incident took place early on Monday morning, just outside Rodriguez’s high-rise apartment in Washington Heights where she lived with her family.
Fearing for her life, Rodriguez struggled to reach her family by buzzing the apartment’s intercom. After hearing frightening yells, Rodriguez’s mother, father, and sister raced down the apartment building to witness a chilling scene of bloodbath. Rodriguez’s sister, Tibby, recapped the horrifying moments vividly, describing the wounds on her sister’s face and the blood splattered across cars and steps.
Uber Driver Turns Eyewitness
Shirley was apparently waiting for an Uber driver when she was attacked. Henry Rodriguez, the victim’s father, mentioned that a few minutes after booking an Uber, he started receiving calls from his daughter for help. An Uber driver who was near the crime scene informed Henry that a man clad in black was spotted fleeing from the scene. The driver recorded the disturbing sequence, which he showed to the victim’s father.
At about 5:30 a.m., Shirley was transported to Harlem Hospital, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Subsequent Arrest
Jemmott, 33, a resident of the Bronx, was later apprehended by the police. He was arrested while he was at his uncle’s house, located in the same area. Jemmott was moved to a nearby hospital after complaining of illness while in police custody. Despite his arrest, Rodriguez’s family’s relief was one accompanied by intense pain and rage.
Relationship Background
Rodriguez concluded her relationship with Jemmott just a week prior to her brutal killing, according to her sister. The couple had been together for about two years. Tibby Rodriguez remarked that it was unsurprising to her that it was Jemmott involved in the incident considering his past behavior of constantly harassing her sister for space and respect.
Jemmott’s Persistent Invades
Rodriguez and Jemmott’s pairing had begun on social media, which also became their point of separation. Tibby explained that one of the main reasons for their break-up was Jemmott’s unrelenting invasive behavior. He would randomly show up at Shirly’s workplace and would keep track of her social media activity. She finally decided to end the relationship when Jemmott confronted her about a new follower.
Remembering Shirley Rodriguez
Friends and family describe Rodriguez as a generous woman with aspirations to become a veterinarian tech. She had a kind heart for animals and offered pet-sitting services to neighbors. The brutal crime left Rodriguez’s family devastated, most especially her mother, Mehira, who is struggling to comprehend the reality of her daughter’s death. The heartbroken family is waiting for justice to be served in their loved one’s tragic and untimely passing.