Family of Mandarin Murder Victim Asks for Help

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The family of a murdered 22-year-old Honduran immigrant are asking for the public's help to solve the crime, while warning all Hispanics to be alert and on guard.

Today a family is in mourning, here in Jacksonville and back home in Honduras. 22-year old Jose Rodriguez, known as "Teco," had finished another ten hour work day Friday helping his brothers frame new homes.

They say Jose left their apartment to get something out of the truck, and moments later there was a series of shots.

Jose and a neighbor, identified by police as 29-year-old Ceferino H. Valle, had been shot.

The neighbor was dead, and Jose died on the way to Shands, according to Jose's brother.

"Our family is a hard-working family. Working to provide the necessities and a good home to live. It's a great family. A drug-free family," said Mary Spivey Tabora, Teco's sister-in-law.

"Please stop killing us people. Our good people. Because we're just working and working and we don't want to hurt nobody," said the victim's older brother, Gelmi Tabora.

Teco had just arrived in Jacksonville from Honduras a month ago.

"He lived for laughter. He lived for his brothers. His sister. And his mother and his dad!"

While there are rumors the men were being robbed by a group that opened fire, police are releasing little information about the crime.

As the family plans a Friday funeral, they look to their God above to help them make sense of this most senseless time.

"We rely on our trust in God. Our hope --that He'll lead us through this and give us the strength to make it!" said Mary Spivey Tabora.

Police are continuing to investigate the double murder but are releasing no details of the crime or potential suspects.

Jose Rodriguez's brothers warn all Hispanics to be on guard and to not go out at night fearing they, too, could become victims.

Call our partner First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. You'll remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your information leads to an arrest.

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