AMHERST — Jose M. “Joselito” Rodriguez, 31, was the man slain in a shooting Friday night at an Amherst apartment complex, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan’s office announced Sunday.
A 28-year-old man who also suffered multiple gunshot wounds remained hospitalized at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, according to a statement issued Sunday by Sullivan’s office. That victim was not identified.
No arrests have been made, according to Carey, though police say the incident was not random and there is no threat to the public.
Sunday afternoon, friends of Rodriguez set up a vigil outside the Southpoint Townhouses and Apartments complex at 266 East Hadley Road. They placed candles and flowers on the ground in memory of their friend. They declined a request for comment and asked for privacy as they mourned.
Police first arrived at the apartment complex late Friday close to midnight. A portion of the complex was blocked off with yellow and red caution tape throughout the morning Saturday.
Cries rang out around the apartment complex late Saturday morning as those close to the victim learned of his death.
Around 11:30 a.m., a man walking past the scene picked up his cellphone. He gasped, bending over.
“They bodied my best friend,” he said. “No, no, no.”
As he rushed into a neighboring apartment building, an officer approached him. The man declined to speak with her.
“This is Amherst, Massachusetts,” the man said, shaking his head. “Not Mattapan.”
Moments later, a woman approached police and, evidently, learned her nephew was the shooting victim. She crumbled into tears. The woman stood next to her sedan, banging on the vehicle, calling out in Spanish for someone to tell her what happened. Tenants consoled her as she cried.
He was her favorite nephew, she told them.
Amherst Police, State Police from the district attorney’s office and the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services are investigating the incident. Amherst police vehicles, including squad cars, undercover cars and a large van lined the perimeter of the parking lot Saturday. Investigators entered and exited the building, wearing blue paper slippers over their shoes as they gathered evidence.
As the day went on, friends of Rodriguez cycled in and out of the apartment. They said they saw blood on the walls. They said the 31-year-old was too young to die.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Amherst Police Department at 413-259-3015, or to text a tip to the anonymous tip line at 274637.
The most recent fatal shooting in Amherst was in 2004 on Meadow Street, when Bryan Johnston killed UMass Amherst student David Sullivan at an off-campus home.