By Dalia Diaz
On Tuesday October 15, 2019, Ana María Puello Rodriguez and family, appeared before the city council to establish a complaint, justice for her brother José Puello Rodriguez, who allegedly got involved in an altercation at the Senior Center, located at 155 Haverhill St., in Lawrence, which killed him.
The family came after participating in a press conference before the television cameras of several Boston channels and local newspapers, organized by Kelly Birchall, where they were able to express their sorrow at the death of their family member before the press.
As reported to the press, on September 16, José, 60, was playing in the billiard room of the Senior Center, where he stumbled upon a man, who hit him with a stick or other weapon and pushed him through a window that leads to the front of the building falling to the pavement, bowing its head.
An ambulance took him to Lawrence General Hospital, transferring him two hours later to Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston where he remained in a coma until Saturday, October 12, when he succumbed to his injuries.
Melvin Puello, son of José, who lives in Orlando, Florida, traveled to Lawrence twice to see his father. “The two times I saw him, he was unconscious, I couldn’t talk to him,” he told us. “I went to Lawrence Police Station and was told there was no report on that matter.”
“All we want is justice to be done, he went into a coma and never woke up,” Mercedes Puello Rodriguez, another of José’s sisters, told us.
After the press conference, Kelly Birchall suggested that the family go to the council meeting taking place that night at City Hall. Kelly was instrumental in organizing the press conference at the Senior Center and contacting the media. The intention was to demand an answer on Mr. Puello’s death since it had been kept secret for a month.
Councilwoman Ana Levy was called to the lobby and was asked to speak with Council President Kendrys Vasquez to allow them to address the full board. They gathered all their power and stood at the podium while Councilor Levy told Kendrys their reason for being there. Even Jeovanny Rodriguez approached him.
Kendrys refused three times and said public participation had already closed. He came to the point of suggesting that they return on November 6 and put their name on the public participation list for their 2-1/2 minute speech.
How insulting to a family that came from many miles in search of answers about the death of a loved one and that they kept hidden. It took a lot of courage, anger and sadness for that family to stand firm before them, only to be treated as intruders.
Finally, Councilor David Abdoo said, “Perhaps we should allow these people to speak,” and Kendrys Vásquez agreed.
Kendrys told Ana María Puello Rodríguez to go ahead and, in the midst of tears, she explained her situation and asked for answers.
People at home could see on television the pain they endured, and Kendrys decided to end their request by taking them by the hand to the councilors’ office. After a long conversation in private, he promised to start an investigation the next day and told them that they would have a report for the weekend.
Shortly after, Kendrys Vasquez, lied to them while taking a flight to Paris for a week. No investigation has taken place and the family has not heard another word.
The daily police record for September 16 says, “Incident number: 19048798 Date: 09/16/2019 09:43:00 Type: MV/BLOCKING Place: SENIOR CENTER DE LAWRENCE / 155 HAVERHILL ST TOWING”. The dispute is not mentioned in the Senior Center and there is no police report of the incident.
City officials said at the council meeting that the cut in his head was the result of breaking the window but he was able to get up and walk away then doctors found he had a tumor which caused his death. That was the version given to department heads.
According to witnesses and family, Mr. Puello was picked up by an ambulance and taken to Lawrence General Hospital. He was in a coma until his death on October 12, at Brigham & Women’s Hospital when family members said that doctors told them he “succumbed as a result of his injuries.”
