Social media influencer, Kevin Rodriguez, passed away in his girlfriend’s arms this past Wednesday after being stabbed and fatally wounded near a Walmart in Temecula, CA. The entire incident was caught on tape by the aggressor himself, who started filming at one point of the confrontation.
A Navy officer who served two decades, 40-year-old James Fortney, was on the way to buy milk with his wife when the conflict occurred. The quarrel allegedly spurred over a stop sign.
Livid, Fortney followed Rodriguez and his girlfriend into the Walmart parking lot. In the time it took Fortney’s wife to go to the store and back, the fight was already over.
Riverside County Sherrif Deputies were called to the scene where they found Rodriguez’s body. The 19-year-old was later transported to a nearby hospital, where he passed away.
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The victim’s family claims the whole thing was caught on camera by the murder suspect. “He got his phone like this, he started recording it. And with the other hand, first, he choked him. Kevin was trying to get away and that’s when he got stabbed.” Atticus Rodriguez, Kevin’s father said.
After the stabbing was over and the anger subsided, Fortney seemed to realize what he had done, made a 180 turn and began helping Kevin, trying to bring him back, but it was too late by then. “How do you do that to somebody, then realize what you did and try to help him? It makes no sense to me at all,” Atticus Rodriguez commented.
Kevin Rodriguez had a following of more than 37,000 on his Instagram account and listed himself as a freelance videographer. Fortney was held at Cois Byrd Detention Center on a charge of voluntary manslaughter.
He was released on bail this Thursday. His wife and daughter await his trail.
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The article was inspired by (ABC7NY) // Walmart stabbing: Suspect identified in killing of social media star