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Family seeking answers after Lawrence man dies following fight at senior center

LAWRENCE, Mass. — A family is searching for answers in the death of a Lawrence man. The 60-year-old father died following a fight at the city senior center.

Several family members gathered outside the senior center on Tuesday night, some having traveled from Florida to be at their brother's bedside. This is not the outcome they were praying for, but now, they want answers.

"The whole family, we're just looking for justice," said Ana Rodriguez, the victim's sister.

Heartbroken family members remember Jose Puello Rodriguez as happy and smiling. He loved to fish and cherished his kids.

"As soon as you see him, you like him," said Milly Desmarias, another sister of Rodriguez.

The 60-year-old died last weekend nearly a month after he was involved in a fight at the Lawrence Senior Center, where he often played pool and dominoes.

The Essex County DA's Office tells Boston 25 News that they're investigating his death. Family members were told he was shoved and hit his head, but the details, including who else was involved, are unclear.

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"Push him to the window and he break the window with his head," Ana Rodriguez said. "My brother was in a coma for like 25 days and he passed away last Saturday."

Rodriguez's family had prayed the father of three would recover.

"It's so hard to see somebody that you love in that condition," Ana said. "It was really hard."

Now, as the family plans his funeral, they’re begging for answers.

"I need to know what happened with my brother," Ana said.

They're confident someone in Lawrence has information that can bring some closure.

"Please, community of Lawrence, try to talk to the police about what happened in here," Ana said. "We don't know what happened in here. We need to know what happened with my brother."

Boston 25 News reached out to the senior center, but they have not provided any comment. The family tells us there was a list of senior center guests who signed in that day and police do have names. They hope someone will be charged in Rodriguez's death.