Rodriguez Charged With Capital Murder In Mattress Store Killings

HOUSTON, TX -- The Houston Police and the Harris County Sheriff's Office are expected to file capital murder charges with the Harris County District Attorney's Office against Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, officials said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Rodriguez is charged with the murders of 62-year-old Pamela Johnson, 28-year-old Allie Barrow, and 57-year-old Edward Magana over a four-day crime spree.

"We are very happy that this dangerous individual...is off the streets," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

Officials said Monday that Rodriguez was out of jail on parole, when he cut off his ankle monitor and began a crime spree that include murder, attempted murder, and aggravated robbery.

"These ankle monitors mean absolutely nothing," said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. "They cut them off, and now we have three dead people."

That crime spree ended Tuesday at 6:56 a.m., when Harris County Sheriff's deputies caught up with Rodriguez in Cypress, and arrested him at the intersection of North Eldridge Parkway and Wortham Landing.

Deputy Jorge Reyes, a 4-year veteran of the department, got the call just before 6:13 a.m. of a suspicious vehicle that matched the description of the gray Nissan Sentra taking from the Mattress One store where Magana worked, and a suspicious man knocking on doors.

"At the time me and another deputy were servicing the area, looking for (Rodriguez)," Reyes said.

While they were searching for the car, Reyes spotted the stolen Nissan Sentra and at about 6:42 a.m. the meandering chase through neighborhood streets began.

Fourteen minutes later, it was all over.

"When I left my house last night before my shift, I told my wife, 'I'm gonna catch him.' Sure enough, I did," he said.

Detectives spent the day interviewing Rodriguez, but officials said he didn't offer any information.

Regardless, investigators said there is enough evidence to charge him with two counts of capital murder for the murders if Johnson and Magana, with the third capital murder charge for Barrow expected to be added on Wednesday.

HPD Detective Mike Barrow, who is no relation to the victim, said there were some loose ends involving forensic evidence that will be presented to the DA's office from the Mattress Firm murder investigation on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, other charges will also be added related to the home invasion robbery on July 9, and the attempted murder of a 22-year-old METRO Lift driver on Monday morning.

METRO Police Chief Vera Bumpers said the driver, who'd only been on the job for five months, was in stable condition and expected to recover.

"His family is with him, and they are able to talk to him," Bumpers said.

The family has asked for privacy, and his name was not released.

RELATED STORIES:

• Accused Serial Killer Named In Houston Crime Spree
• Houston Serial Killer Wanted In Mattress Store Murders Arrested

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