2 Years, Still No Arrests in Kevin Rodas Murder
CHARLOTTE, NC — A family’s worst nightmare. A seven-year-old son shot down. The killers still on the loose two years later.
Kevin Rodas was murdered at a birthday party during the Labor Day weekend in 2015. His grieving mother is still crying out for justice.
Maria Rodas’ son, Kevin, was gunned down at a birthday party in Southwest Charlotte two years ago.
More than 80 CMPD officers and detectives have put in hundreds of man hours on this case, but no arrests have been made.
“It’s very frustrating,” says CMPD Capt, Chris Dozier. “We’ve had a lot of evidence. We’ve had a lot of people to talk to.”
Captain Dozier, with CMPD’s Homicide Division, says this case is always a priority. Police are still asking for someone to come forward with information.
“It’s a big frustration, because of the amount of effort and resource we’ve put into this, and still not made an arrest,” says Dozier. “And I can understand the frustration of the family.”
“It is very hard for us, as homicide detectives, to work these cases,” says retired homicide detective Gary McFadden.
McFadden spent 30 years working homicide in Charlotte.
He says cases involving kids hit close to home for the the men and women trying to give the victim’s family some closure.
“That case bothers you,” says McFadden. “And you think about that child, because the family is going to call you during that child’s birthday. You’re going to think about that child during Christmas. And you’re going to think about that child on that anniversary of that death.”
“He was planning to do great things,” says University City resident Lakeshia Scott.
Scott knows Maria Rodas’ pain.
Her son, 21-year-old Paul Coleman, was was murdered in Columbia, South Carolina, where he was attending college, just days after Kevin Rodas was killed.
She is still waiting for his accused killers to stand trial, and processing the loss of a child to gun violence.
“Pass a bedroom,” says Scott. “Or hear a song. Or the news clippings, that keep constantly reminding you of what happened. It takes a toll on you.”
There is a $15,000 reward being offered for information leading to an arrest in the Kevin Rodas case.
