Asked to describe his son, Jaime Rodriguez shakes his head. He's either at a loss for words, or for the strength to utter them, or both.
He takes a long sip from a water bottle. He sniffs, grips the microphone-laden table, grimaces, wipes his left eye. Several moments pass, and his brother puts a hand on his shoulder. They speak quietly to each other.
"No puede," the brother finally says. "He can't."
Rodriguez's son, Jimmy, was 18 years old, a graduate of Lilburn's Parkview High School who planned to join the Marine Corps and, later, become a doctor.
Instead, there's a $3,000 reward for tips leading Gwinnett County police to his killer.
Around 12:30 a.m. on July 2, Jimmy was driving near Norcross and, according to Gwinnett police, spotted a friend near the corner of West National Circle and Graves Road. The friend was arguing with two unknown men, and Jimmy turned his car around. One of the strangers opened fire.
A bullet hit Jimmy in the chest, and he crashed into a parked car and a fence. He later died at Gwinnett Medical Center.
Nearly four weeks later, no suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made. Police have only a vague description — men in their young 20s — to go on.
That's what spurred Jaime Rodriguez, Jimmy's uncle and Jimmy's cousin to visit Gwinnett County police headquarters for a Thursday morning press conference. They pleaded for the public's help, stressing that the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line is completely anonymous and announcing the increased reward. The family also plans to pitch in another $5,000 of their own money, they said.
"The family's completely destroyed," cousin Al Gregory said. "This was a really really young guy, he was a happy guy. He's one of these guys, he's a very good son, good family, good friend."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by calling 404-577-8477, texting the tip to 274637 or visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.
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