Jessica Rodriguez, Odessa, Texas mom & 2 kids shot and killed after her 15 year old daughter breaks up with teen shooter who decided to punish girl by targeting her family.
A 15 year old boy teen in Odessa, Texas is alleged to have shot and killed his ex girlfriend’s mother and her two children days after a recent break up.
Officers responded to the 87th Street Apartments complex at 8740 Hunter Miller Way around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday following reports of a shooting. They found three victims dead from gunshot wounds inside an apartment according to a release from Odessa, Texas authorities.
The juvenile suspect fled the scene but was captured within 40 minutes on the Andrews Highway. A handgun believed to be the one the 15-year-old is alleged to have used was also recovered according to NewsWest9.
Juvenile shooter decided to target ex girlfriend’s family after initially planning to teen girl dead
The victims were identified as Jessica Rodriguez, 39, and her two children, Kylie, 13, and Jacob, 9.
Police Chief Michael Gerke during a Wednesday press conference said the teen shooter had targeted the family after the 15 year old elder sibling of the victims, breaking things off.
The suspect had initially planned to shoot his former girlfriend outside school, but changed his mind and went after her family.
‘Evil does visit us from time to time,’ Gerke said. ‘It was such a tragic and cowardly act of violence.’
Following his arrest, the juvenile was charged with one count of capital murder of multiple persons.
Juvenile shooter could still be prosecuted as adult as victims’ father laments gun violence
The teen was held in custody at the the Ector County Youth Center. Whether he will be tried as an adult will be determined by prosecutors; if that happens, his name could be released publicly.
The former husband of the slain mom and the slain children’s father, Roy Casey Martinez set up a GoFundMe in which he conveyed struggling coming to terms with the tragedy.
‘Today, a young boy took the lives of my 9-year-old son, my 13-year-old daughter, and their mother, who was my ex-wife. This is something that no one can really prepare themselves for because we don’t expect this kind of tragedy to happen to any of us,’ Martinez said. ‘I am not a person who ever asks for help from anyone, but at this time, I don’t have a choice. Thank you in advance. Anything and everything is appreciated!’
