Authorities have confirmed that a mother from New York City and a soccer coach from Michigan were shot dead in a car in Miami earlier this month.
Chastidy Charlotte Rodriguez and Darious Coon, aged 31, were discovered with gunshot wounds in a parking lot on the morning of July 19.
Rodriguez, hailing from the Bronx, had been seeking employment at a strip club, while Coon had relocated to the Miami area a few months prior.
Their personal items remained with them, indicating they may not have been targeted for theft, according to police reports.
“Everyone will tell you she had a good heart,” said Rodriguez’s brother, expressing his grief as the family prepared for a Sunday memorial service.
“She was a kind person and a devoted mother,” he added.
“We don’t want this to be just another statistic,” he said. “We are seeking justice. She didn’t deserve to die like this. We hope investigators find those responsible.”
Coon’s family is grappling with how to explain this tragedy to his 7-year-old daughter and teenage son.
He is scheduled to be laid to rest on August 7, which is also his birthday.
“My granddaughter, she’s only seven. She doesn’t quite understand; she just knows Daddy isn’t answering the phone,” said Tathia Porter, Coon’s mother.
Porter characterized her son as a committed father, an avid fitness enthusiast, and a soccer coach.
“Losing a child is a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” she said.
Police received reports of a foul odor coming from the vehicle, suggesting the bodies might have been inside for several days.
Investigators have yet to ascertain the motive behind this double homicide and are currently reviewing surveillance footage from the days leading up to the incident.
