A suspected serial killer was arrested in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday morning, July 17, following a manhunt and a high-speed chase.
Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, a 46-year-old man, was allegedly involved three murders, one armed robbery, and one home invasion robbery, KHOU-TV reported.
Jose Gilberto Rodriguez is in custody at Eldridge @ Fallbrook. He was arrested after a brief vehicle pursuit. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/yottHARuFJ
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) July 17, 2018
A manhunt began Monday afternoon after police identified Rodriguez as the suspect in the crimes. At around 6:00 a.m Tuesday, police received a report of a suspicious vehicle. The responding sheriff’s deputy found the vehicle, a dark gray Nissan Sentra, matching the description of the car Rodriguez was believed to be driving.
Rodriguez was found still inside the Nissan after a high-speed chase. Police took him into custody without further incident. A pistol was found inside the car, sheriff’s deputies told KHOU-TV.
“Jose Gilberto Rodriguez is in custody at Eldridge. He was arrested after a brief vehicle pursuit,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted.
Rodriguez was released on parole last September. Since 1989 he has been convicted of burglary, attempted aggravated sex abuse, auto theft, and criminal trespassing. He is also a registered sex offender, KTRK-TV said.
Sixty-two-year-old Pamela Johnson was believed to be the first victim of Rodriguez’s alleged recent crime spree. She was found dead at home on Friday, July 13, with her television, computer, and jewelry missing. Police found Johnson’s missing car on Saturday in the parking lot of a local mall, and identified Rodriguez as the suspect through the surveillance video, KHOU-TV said.
Johnson lived by herself and was hard of hearing. Deputies say that could make a person more vulnerable to become a victim of a crime.
Posted by KHOU 11 News on Sunday, July 15, 2018
On Saturday, July 14, 28-year-old Allie Barrow, who was believed to be another victim of Rodriguez’s recent crimes, was found shot to death in a local mattress store. Two days later, another man was found fatally shot in another mattress store.
Police also believed Rodriguez was responsible for a July 9 home invasion robbery and a July 16 armed robbery. A driver from MetroLift, a shared-ride public transit service in Houston, was shot in the July 16 robbery. He survived after being rushed to an area hospital.
Rodriguez hasn’t been charged in the alleged crimes. His motive is unclear to the public for now.
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