Jason Duane Rodriguez, BHS 1990

Burbank Leader, Weekend May 2-3, 1998

Arrest made in killing of Burbanker
Jason Rodriguez, 26, was buried Thursday. Authorities arrest 23-year-old suspect from Los Angeles.

Hollywood - One day after friends and family buried Jason Rodriguez, Los Angeles police arrested a 23-year-old man Friday on suspicion of stabbing and killing the 26-year-old Burbank resident.

More than 250 people attended the funeral services Thursday morning at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, tearfully saying goodbye to Rodriguez, who died early April 25, 1998, from a stab wound to the chest. Mourners remembered his great smile and positive attitude, and questioned the senselessness of his death, said Rodriguez's older brother, Kevin.

Los Angeles resident Michael Sermeno stabbed Rodriguez at 11:45 p.m. March 24, 1998 in a West Sunset Boulevard parking lot near the Hollywood Palladium, where there was a concert going on, said Detective Michael Gannon of the Hollywood Division of the LAPD. There was a fight inside the concert, but police do not know how many people were involved.

Rodriguez, who died less than two hours after he was knifed, was in the wrong place at the wrong time, his brother said.  "He was just there to be with his friends," Kevin Rodriguez said. "He really shouldn't have even been there."

Jason Rodriguez, a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power maintenance construction helper of nine years, will be remembered as a hard worker, a genuine person and a loving father to 6-year-old Casaundra Alcantar of Tujunga, Kevin said. In his 18 years in Burbank, the fun-loving Rodriguez made many friends. His happiness and honesty touched many lives.

Sermeno was being held without bail at the Los Angeles City Jail in Hollywood. His arraignment date was pending.
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Burbank Leader, Wednesday, May 6, 1998

JASON RODRIGUEZ

Mr. Jason Rodriguez, 26, died April 25 at a Los Angeles hospital. Mr. Rodriguez was born in California. He was a resident of Burbank for 18 years. He was employed as a maintenance construction helper with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for nine years.

He is survived by his daughter, Casaundra Alcantar; father, Louis; mother, Karen; and brother, Kevin. Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 30 at Old North Church, Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills was in charge of the arrangements.

NOTE: I got Jason's name from the old BHS/JBHS memorial page that is no longer available. It had him from Class of 1990, but was unable to find a photo of him in either the 89 or 90 yearbook.