Man Sought In Harlem Incident That Killed Beloved Cancer Nurse: Police

HARLEM, NY – On Saturday, Aug. 3., Martha E. Rodriguez, a 72-year-old resident of East 66th Street and 1st Avenue, was rushed to Harlem Hospital Center in critical condition with head trauma, according to police.

Rodriguez was "bumped into" following a dispute between two men near 470 Lenox Avenue at 133rd Street, police said.

Two men were arguing when one pulled out a sharp object and chased the other down the sidewalk, according to police. During that chase, one of the men bumped into Rodriguez, and she fell, officials said.

A police spokesperson could not confirm which individual is depicted in the media, although the New York Post reported that the image depicts the man who started the chase.

Rodriguez reportedly died as a result of her injuries on Aug. 6.

'A Beacon Of Hope'

A nurse practitioner, Rodriguez worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for nearly 30 years, including 15 years in breast cancer treatment, according to the Post.

Friends have set up a GoFundMe page in Rodriguez’s honor, to “help cover the cost of her funeral and to jumpstart a scholarship program for the underserved population,” it reads.

Over the years, Martha’s dedication, compassion and expertise touched the lives of countless patients and caregivers. Her patients adored her, and she was a beacon of hope and kindness to everyone she encountered. She was also a highly valued colleague who will be dearly missed.

A message sent to the organizers of the fundraising campaign has not yet been returned. Patch will update this story when we hear back.

After her death, Rodriguez reportedly donated both of her kidneys and her liver to patients in need, which nonprofit LiveOnNY said provided lifesaving assistance to three men.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). All calls are strictly confidential.