Former Long Beach Unified School District safety officer, Eddie Gonzalez, age 54, has been sentenced to three years in prison for the shooting death of 18-year-old Manuela "Mona" Rodriguez in 2021. CBS News Los Angeles reported that Gonzalez received the minimum sentence under a plea agreement that allowed for a three or six-year term. He has been credited for time served through jail and electronic monitoring.
This sentencing comes after a mistrial was declared earlier this year when a jury could not unanimously decide on Gonzalez's guilt, leaving the vote split with seven for conviction and five for acquittal on murder charges. On August 20, as stated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Gonzalez entered a no-contest plea to the less severe charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Rodriguez was involved in an altercation with a 15-year-old girl outside Millikan High School and was shot by Gonzalez as she sat in a car attempting to leave the scene. She succumbed to her injuries days later after being taken off life support.
During the trial, the prosecution condemned Gonzalez's actions, accusing him of trying to "play police officer" and using deadly force in response to a situation that should have been left to "real police officers." They argued he should have simply recorded the vehicle's license plate instead of firing at the car. In contrast, the defense maintained that Gonzalez believed he was in imminent danger of being run over, prompting him to "stop the threat of deadly force." According to CBS News Los Angeles, defense attorney Michael Schwartz stated, "A tragedy took place, not a crime."
