Gay Basher’s Father Pleads for Forgiveness

(Oct. 16) The father of Daniel Rodriguez, Jr., a retired New York corrections officer is asking for forgiveness for his son’s brutal assault against openly gay Jack Prince.

"I want to say to Mr. Price that I'm sorry for my son, and that he wasn't the one that caused him harm," Daniel Rodriguez, Sr., said. "I caused him the harm the minute I stopped being a father to my son. I hurt him."

The emotional plea of forgiveness comes as his son Daniel Rodriguez, Jr. and Daniel Aleman are accused of violently assaulting Price because he was gay.

Price was placed in a medically induced coma after being rushed to the hospital.  The 130 pound victim suffered a shattered jaw, collapsed lung and damaged spleen.

The beating was captured on surveillance video recently installed in the area.

On Thursday, Rodriguez confessed to detectives when they picked him up in Virginia, where he'd been hiding out since the beating, prosecutors said.

He claimed that Price provoked him by writing graffiti of a sexual nature in the bodega where the assault began.

Then, prosecutors say Rodriguez admitted to using an anti-gay slur and stealing Price's wallet. He also allegedly told detectives, "I was angry, ‘cause Jack is disgusting."

Price insists he did not write any graffiti and otherwise did nothing to provoke the attack.

Price's family says they may never forgive his son, but understand how he feels as a father.

"I have four children of my own the same ages, and I don't blame him," Price's sister-in-law, Joanne Guarneri said. "And I feel really bad. He's going to be down a really long road with his son, and my family's going to be down a long road with Jack. It's just heartbreaking that three families are torn apart."

Price is having his breathing tubes taken out and family members are hopeful he will be headed home soon.