Barricaded Murder Suspect Surrenders Peacefully: Sheriff's Office

TAMPA, FL — A 28-year-old man faces second-degree murder charges after he was brought into custody by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office following a three-hour standoff Thursday.

According to the sheriff's office, Raul Rodriguez Jr. peacefully surrendered from the home in the 8900 block of Navajo Avenue he had barricaded himself in. Detectives arrived at the home late Thursday morning after learning Rodriguez was there. He was wanted on an outstanding warrant related to the Dec. 23 death of Jose Alonso Rodriguez, 23.

When Raul Rodriguez Jr. wouldn't come out of the home, the sheriff's office's SWAT team members and crisis negotiators were deployed to the scene.

"SWAT team members then deployed audible distraction devices that motivated Rodriguez to peacefully surrender," the sheriff's office explained in a Thursday evening email.

Detectives say Raul Rodriguez Jr. and Jose Rodriguez, who are not related, got into a fight at a home in Wimauma around 2:30 a.m. Dec. 23. Raul Rodriguez Jr. is accused of shooting Jose Rodriguez during that fight. Jose Rodriguez died at the scene.

No further information is available at this time.

Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Facebook page