Hamilton family forced to take down memorial for son

A Hamilton family is devastated after being forced to take down a memorial to their late son and brother who was killed just seven weeks ago.

Police say Mario Rodgers was intentionally run over by a car back in December.

The alleged driver now faces a second-degree murder charge.

Franca Rapino, Rodgers’ mother, says the memorial was put up at the spot where her 22-year-old son took his last breath. It’s where his entire family comes to grieve and remember him.

They say they were ordered to take down the memorial by midnight on Thursday or else building staff would remove the flowers and photos themselves.

The apartment building located on Barton St. near Cenntenial Pky. is managed by Golden Equity Properties. CHCH News reached out to them for comment but have not yet heard back.

The family says they were willing to make the memorial smaller but say the building manager still would not allow it.

A family friend has started a petition to save the memorial. It has received 500 signatures from community members who want to see it stay.

Rodgers’ family says they never want anyone to forget what happened in this parking lot.