The 17-year-old suffered a head injury while celebrating a Spurs victory last week.
SAN ANTONIO — Relatives of Joey Rodriguez, the San Antonio teenager who was brain-dead after an accident he suffered while celebrating a Spurs playoff win, say he was taken off life support and passed away Tuesday afternoon.
The 17-year-old had been hospitalized with a severe head injury after falling from a vehicle the night of May 28 as fans were celebrating a Western Conference Finals win over the Thunder on Dickson Street near Southwest Military Drive, according to San Antonio police. His grandmother told KENS 5 he was declared brain-dead the next day.
He remained on a ventilator for a few days as his family make final arrangements. Loved ones described Rodriguez as a kind and caring teenager who was always willing to help others and would “give the shirt off his back” for someone in need.
SAPD representatives have continued urging the community to celebrate safely and responsible during the Spurs playoff run, where wins have regularly been followed up by honking and residents sitting in truck beds or hanging out of windows and sunroofs.
“SAPD would advise to always wear your seatbelt, follow all traffic laws, do not exit your vehicle on an active roadway, do not engage in celebratory gunfire, do not pop fireworks, do not light fires and do no sit on top of moving vehicles,” the department said. “Our top priority is safety for all.”