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Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, 46, was arrested after a tipster reported seeing a suspicious vehicle that turned out to belong to one of Rodriguez’s alleged victims.
He is expected to face three capital murder charges,theHouston Chroniclereports.
Police say the first of Rodriguez’s fatal victims was 62-year-old Pamela Johnson, killed in her northwest Harris County home on Friday night.
A review of mall surveillance video allegedly showed Rodriguez leaving the vehicle behind.
On Saturday night, a manager at a Houston Mattress Firm found the body of employee Allie Barrow, 28, in the store.
On Monday, police discovered another victim, a man, inside a Mattress One store in the area. That victim was identified as 57-year-old Eduardo Edmundo Magana, according to theChronicle. His Nissan Sentra had been stolen.
Police issued a bulletin urging residents to notify them if they saw anything suspicious.
“If he’s hearing my voice, we’re coming for you,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said during a news conference last week.
“Best thing he can do is turn himself in before he gets himself hurt or anybody else,” Acevedo said.
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Early Thursday morning, a tipster called 911 after spotting a Nissan Sentra in a residential neighborhood. Police arrived at the scene and found that Rodriguez was still in the vehicle.
An approximately 14-minute car chase ensued, but Rodriguez was captured and taken into custody.
Police say they found a pistol in the car. It has been sent for ballistics testing.
“It’s possible he was casing the neighborhood in search of his next victim,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez,according to CNN. “So thanks to the alert work of that citizen and swift action, we were able to get involved.”In addition to the three slayings, authorities believe Rodriguez is responsible for a home invasion on July 9 and the shooting of a bus driver on Monday,according to ABC NewsandtheChronicle.
Rodriguez’s criminal history goes back to 1989, according to theChronicle, and he was at last paroled in September before moving to Harris County in December.
Rodriguez is being held without bond and has not yet entered a plea. Court records do not reflect an attorney authorized to speak on his behalf.
source: people.com
