Skip to Content
Crime

Fundraiser For 92-Year-Old Man Beaten in Los Angeles Duplicates Its Goal By Twelve [Updated]

5:07 PM PDT on July 9, 2018

[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap] GoFundMe campaign started by the grandson of a 92-year-old Los Angeles man who was badly beaten with a brick on the 4th of July more than doubled its goal to raise $15,000 dollars to help pay his extensive medical bills.

In just three days, donations racked up to $44,000 (and counting) for Rodolfo Rodriguez, who was allegedly beaten by a woman with a brick and five other men near the corner of 118th Street and Central Avenue in Willowbrook.

[UPDATE: Since this story was published on Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign for Mr. Rodriguez is past $234,000 in donations, duplicating the original goal by more than TWELVE times.]

Rodriguez told authorities that he accidentally bumped into a woman’s small daughter on his daily walk. He said he apologized and turn to continue his walk when the woman hit him from behind, knocking him to the floor. She then allegedly picked up a brick and began to beat Rodriguez with the help of five others, according to the GoFundMe set up by grandson Erik Mendoza.

“He is doing really bad, has a lot of bruises on his face and a broken cheekbone,” Mendoza wrote on the GoFundMe which launched July 6.

A video, shot by a witness who called 911, became national news. It also started trending in Mexico, where Rodriguez is originally from.

Rodriguez, who is a legal U.S. resident with a multigenerational American family, was reportedly told to go back to his country during the incident, a witness told CBS Los Angeles. Rodriguez said he blacked out during the violence. He also told ABC that he wanted the people who hurt him to be found so they could pay for his medical bills.

The money raised by the GoFundMe will go toward that.

RELATED: Video Captured Robbery Attack that Left Oaxacan Street Vendor Badly Beaten

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Bronny James Cleared To Play Basketball Again By His Doctors

In August, the James family said that after comprehensive initial an follow-up exams, "the probable cause of Mr. James' sudden cardiac arrest has been identified. It is an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect which can and will be treated.

November 30, 2023

Where To Eat This Weekend: Boozy Fresas Con Crema, El Ruso’s New Flour Tostadas, Heritage Fire, and Hotville’s Fried Chicken-and-Chorizo Paella

Plus, where to go for Jordanian shawarma, mezcal-cured steelhead trout tostadas, powerful hash crackers, a local viewing of KISS's farewell concert, and L.A.'s most opulent Sunday brunch.

November 30, 2023

Sonoratown Will Open a Long Beach Location Next Year

Expect to find the city's favorite flour tortillas and caramelos on 3rd Street in Downtown Long Beach, as soon as six months from now.

November 30, 2023

Glendale’s Excellent New Taco Stand Harassed By Self-Described “Police Informant”

A Glendale police officer says he had arrested Emanuel Gulakian for assault with a deadly weapon only a couple of weeks earlier, after the man threw rocks at another taco stand.

November 29, 2023

Ski-Masked Suspect Who Fatally Shot Man at L.A. Live Restaurant Last Night Is Sought By Police

A male suspect left the scene of the shooting in a white Honda, possibly an SUV. According to on-scene reports, the suspect was wearing an all-black sweat suit and ski mask.

November 29, 2023
See all posts