Authorities are searching for a knife-wielding thug who pinned an innocent bystander to death during a wild chase down a Harlem sidewalk last month.
Martha Rodriguez, 72, a popular nurse who lives on the Upper East Side, was struck by one of the men involved in the pursuit on Aug. 3 near West 134th Street and Lenox Avenue, according to police and sources.
She fell to the ground, hit her head and was rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition, where she was pronounced dead three days later, police said.
The suspect police were pursuing began chasing the other man with a knife after the two began fighting, and the man being pursued punched Rodriguez and threw him to the ground, officials said.
Rodriguez's death was later ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, police said.
The NYPD released images Tuesday of the suspect who allegedly initiated the deadly pursuit, officials said.
Rodriguez has worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for more than 28 years, the past 15 in the hospital's breast cancer department, an MSK representative told The Post.
“Martha had a passion for life. She loved the arts and always found time to go to the theater or a museum. Over the years, her dedication, compassion and expertise touched the lives of countless patients and caregivers,” friends wrote in a GoFundMe post.
“Her patients adored her and she was a beacon of hope and kindness to all she encountered. She was also an invaluable colleague and will be dearly missed.”
Her friends also said she donated her kidneys and liver to patients in need after her death, which was confirmed by LiveOnNY.
The nonprofit said Rodriguez's donation saved the lives of three men in their 60s and 70s.
“During this difficult time, our hearts are with Martha's family, friends and loved ones, as well as her colleagues throughout the medical community,” Leonard Achan, CEO and president of LiveOnNY, said in a statement to The Washington Post.
“We are grateful for her life's service and legacy, which will continue to inspire and save lives.”
The nurse's friends have set up a GoFundMe to pay for funeral expenses and to start a scholarship in her honor, because she was “really passionate about supporting future generations.”
“Martha touched so many lives. She was a warm, caring, approachable and easy friend to talk to,” they said. “She will be deeply missed and cherished.”
Additional reporting by Dorian Geiger.
