Parents grieve for their son who was murdered

Magdalena Rodriguez, mother of Bryan Galicia-Rodriguez who was shot to death in his driveway in the Poplar Gove neighborhood, looks at the shrine mourners have set up in front of her home.

Magdalena Rodriguez was sleeping peacefully when she awoke to the sound of gunfire just before 1am on Sept. 10 and she knew something horrible had just occurred. Outside she found her son, 17-year-old- Bryan Galicia-Rodriguez, slumped over in his car with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and chest.

“I knew right away that my son was dying,” she said. “We called 911 but I knew nothing could fix him.”

According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, Bryan had just pulled into his driveway after he and his girlfriend had gone to find a late-night snack when an unknown assailant walked up to his car, pointed a gun at him, and shot him four times at close range. Bryan was rushed to the hospital where he died of his wounds. After shooting Bryan, the unknown gunman ran to his car and sped away.

Bryan Galicia-Rodriguez

“Our (house) camera picked up the car,” said Julio Galicia, Bryan’s father, “but it was too dark to make out the car or who was driving it.”

On Sept. 30 a 16-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated murder in connection with the shooting. His name was withheld because he is a minor, and little information has been released. Although Galicia and Rodriguez thanked the police for the arrest, they are left with sorrow and many questions. “My son was a sweet, loving person,’’ said Rodriguez. “Why would someone do this?”

At the time of his death, Bryan was a senior in high school and had a job working at Walmart. His parents say he was well liked by his teachers, his friends and by people in the neighborhood “because he was always smiling and trying to help others,” said Galicia.

The police have said the shooting might be gang-related but Bryan’s parents say he had no gang ties that they are aware of. “He was a normal kid. He wasn’t a gang member. I know his friends and they would do normal stuff like play video games or head off to the golf course,” said Galicia, noting that Bryan was a hard worker and had dreams of starting his own small business.

“He would always tell me how much he loved me,” said a teary-eyed Rodriquez. “He said he was going to always take care of me and would someday have enough money to buy me a big house. I miss him so much. My heart went with him.”

“We have lived in this [Poplar Grove] neighborhood for 20 years and have felt safe until this happened,” said Galicia. “Now I am afraid to leave my wife and (remaining) son alone for fear that this gunman will come back and hurt them.”

Bryan’s parents said they feel some relief because of the arrest but not knowing why the youth committed such a heinous crime leaves them with little closure.

“We hope the arrest will lead to justice, but nothing can bring Bryan back,” said Rodriguez, adding that, “we need to do more to get the guns off our streets and out of the hands of our children.”

Mourners have set up a shrine for Bryan with candles, flowers and other offerings on the corner outside the Galicia-Rodriguez home. Anyone wishing to donate toward Bryan’s funeral expenses can do so on Venmo to Magda bkb Rodriguez (@Magdalena-Rodriguez-8).