By Sola Adeniji|M10News Crime Desk|29 July 2025
Miami police are investigating the deaths of a New York City mother and a Michigan football coach, whose bodies were found shot inside a parked vehicle in a downtown garage earlier this month.
The victims have been identified as Chastity Charlotte Rodriguez, 35, of The Bronx, and Darius Coon, 31, of Michigan, according to authorities. The pair were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds on the morning of Saturday, July 19, inside a car located in a multilevel parking structure in downtown Miami.
Police say Rodriguez had traveled to Miami in search of employment, reportedly at a local strip club. Coon had recently relocated to the area, and reports indicate the two may have been on a date the night they were killed.
Investigators say there were no immediate signs of robbery. Personal items belonging to both victims remained in the vehicle, and no valuables appeared to be missing, suggesting a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence.
Family members are now calling for justice, expressing grief and disbelief over the loss of their loved ones. Rodriguez’s brother spoke to CBS Miami, remembering her as a devoted mother and kind-hearted person.
“Everyone around her would tell you she has a good heart,” he said. “We don’t want this to be just another case. We want justice. She did not deserve to go out this way.”
A memorial service for Rodriguez was held on Sunday, as the family continued to seek answers about what happened during her final hours.
In Michigan, Coon’s family is grappling with how to explain the tragedy to his children. He leaves behind a 7-year-old daughter and a teenage son.
“My granddaughter, she’s 7. She don’t understand it, none of it,” said Coon’s mother, Tashia Porter, in an interview with WXYZ-TV in Detroit. “She just knows that Daddy is not picking up the phone.”
Porter described her son as a dedicated father, a passionate football coach, and a fitness enthusiast who cared deeply about his family.
“To lose a child—there’s no pain like it,” she said. “It’s nothing I would wish on anyone.”
Authorities were first alerted to the scene after reports of a strong odor coming from the parked car. When officers arrived, they discovered the two bodies inside. Based on preliminary findings, officials believe the pair may have been deceased inside the vehicle for up to four days before being found.
The Miami Police Department has not released a suspected motive and is continuing to review hours of surveillance footage from the area. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains active.
Coon is scheduled to be laid to rest on August 7—what would have been his 32nd birthday.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers.
Editing by M10News Crime Desk | Contact: crime@m10news.com
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