A Texas teen battling bone
cancer was killed by a 15-year-old just days before he was set to see
his Make-A-Wish dream come true.
Diego Rodriguez, 17, was fatally shot Tuesday by a teenage boy playing with a handgun, it was reported.
The gun went off when Rodriguez tried to take the weapon from the younger boy, police said.
At the time of his death, the San Antonio teen had one wish.
He’d been battling bone cancer for two years and just wanted to live to see his grandfather’s truck redone by the Black Jack Speed Shop owned by retired NBA All-Star Tim Duncan.
The 23-year-old old Chevy S10 was probably only worth $1,500 — and the restoration may have cost $15,000. But the Make-A-Wish Foundation was willing to help.
As soon as the nonprofit approached Black Jack about pitching in, they said yes.
“I was excited to bring some joy to a young man who was down for the better part of his earlier years,” Pena said.
Getting the truck work done was part of a birthday promise from the boy's mom.
"She had promised Diego if he can fight the cancer and make it to his 16th birthday that she would give him the truck," Pena said.
But Rodriguez didn’t live to see the completed product.
Now shiny and new-looking, the treasured truck boasts new paint, a custom interior, new suspension and new wheels and tires.
All the work isn’t for naught, though — the truck will be unveiled Monday at the teen’s funeral service, where it will be featured in the procession.
"I'm grateful to have been a part of the journey with Make-A-Wish and Diego's family and I still look forward to unveiling it to the family so they have some sort of bright spot in this whole equation," Pena said.
Diego Rodriguez, 17, was fatally shot Tuesday by a teenage boy playing with a handgun, it was reported.
The gun went off when Rodriguez tried to take the weapon from the younger boy, police said.
At the time of his death, the San Antonio teen had one wish.
He’d been battling bone cancer for two years and just wanted to live to see his grandfather’s truck redone by the Black Jack Speed Shop owned by retired NBA All-Star Tim Duncan.
The 23-year-old old Chevy S10 was probably only worth $1,500 — and the restoration may have cost $15,000. But the Make-A-Wish Foundation was willing to help.
As soon as the nonprofit approached Black Jack about pitching in, they said yes.
“I was excited to bring some joy to a young man who was down for the better part of his earlier years,” Pena said.
Getting the truck work done was part of a birthday promise from the boy's mom.
"She had promised Diego if he can fight the cancer and make it to his 16th birthday that she would give him the truck," Pena said.
But Rodriguez didn’t live to see the completed product.
Now shiny and new-looking, the treasured truck boasts new paint, a custom interior, new suspension and new wheels and tires.
All the work isn’t for naught, though — the truck will be unveiled Monday at the teen’s funeral service, where it will be featured in the procession.
"I'm grateful to have been a part of the journey with Make-A-Wish and Diego's family and I still look forward to unveiling it to the family so they have some sort of bright spot in this whole equation," Pena said.
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