Denver sign says it all: “Stop violence, choose peace”

DENVER — For Helen Rodriguez, it’s been a long time coming. 

Eight years after her son, Desiderio Rodriguez Sr., was killed, a sign at Broadway and Maples bears her son’s name, with the words:  “Stop violence, choose peace.”

Rodriguez was shot and killed in November of 2004, outside of a now-closed South Broadway bar. 

“Desi was my best friend, he was my only son,” says Ms. Rodriguez. 

She has spent years going through red tape to get her son’s sign posted.  The family believes it is the first of its kind in the country.

 Rodriguez’ son was just 13 when his dad died.  Now 20, he hopes to one day become a police officer, for his dad. 

“I wanna help stop this stuff.  I wanna be part of the cure.  I wanna stop people from doing the bad things.  I wanna force the good,” he says.

 Rodriguez’ killer is spending life behind bars