NYPD seeks suspect who started foot chase that led to Martha Rodriguez’s death

Authorities are on the hunt for a knife-wielding goon who set off a foot chase that led to the death of an innocent bystander when she was knocked over during the violent pursuit on a Harlem sidewalk last month.

Beloved nurse practitioner Martha Rodriguez, 72, of the Upper East Side, was crashed into by one of the men involved in the chase near West 134th Street and Lenox Avenue on August 3, cops and sources said.

She fell to the ground, struck her head and was rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition. She was pronounced dead three days later, police said.

The suspect sought by police started chasing after the other man with a knife after the two got into a fight. The man being chased bowled over Rodriguez, knocking her to the ground, sources said. 

Rodriguez’s death was later ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, police said.

The NYPD on Tuesday blasted out images of the suspect that allegedly started the deadly chase, sources said.

Rodriguez worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for more than 28 years and served the last 15 years in the breast cancer treatment part of the hospital, an MSK rep told The Post.

“Martha had a zest for life. She loved the arts, always finding time to go to a theater production or a museum. Over the years, Martha’s dedication, compassion and expertise touched the lives of countless patients and caregivers,” her friends wrote in a GoFundMe post.

“Her patients adored her, and she was a beacon of hope and kindness to everyone she encountered. She was also a highly valued colleague who will be dearly missed.”

Her friends also noted she donated her kidney and liver to patients in need following her death, which was confirmed by LiveOnNY.

The non-profit said Rodriguez’s donations saved the lives of three men, in their 60s and 70s.

“Our hearts remain with Martha’s family, friends, loved ones, and her colleagues throughout the healthcare community during this difficult time,” LiveOnNY CEO and President Leonard Achan said in a statement to The Post.

“We are grateful for her lifelong service and her legacy, which will continue to inspire and save lives.”

The nurse practitioner’s friends started the GoFundMe to pay for funeral costs and to jumpstart a scholarship in her honor because she “was truly passionate about supporting future generations.”

“Martha had touched the lives of so many. She was warm, caring, and inviting — a friend easy to talk to,” they said. “She will be deeply missed and cherished.”

Additional reporting by Dorian Geiger.