An 18-year-old man from Hialeah has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident involving a woman who, along with his ex-girlfriend, was accused of egging his residence. The suspect, Jason Alejandro Rodriguez, surrendered to Hialeah Police on Monday afternoon; the events leading up to the confrontation occurred in the early hours of Sunday, as reported by Local 10.
Police were alerted to the situation after the victim, who sustained an arm injury, sought treatment at a freestanding emergency room off the Palmetto Expressway; the shooting reportedly took place in the 900 block of East Second Avenue with the woman seated in the passenger side of the car driven by Rodriguez's former partner, this series of events culminating in the reckless discharge of a firearm, and the subsequent apprehension of Rodriguez for his alleged involvement has left the Hialeah community in a state of disbelief, as stated by NBC Miami.
Rodriguez initially asserted self-defense, claiming to law enforcement officers that he had been "struck in the chest by an egg and a rock" and had seen "a green laser on his body," as per Local 10's report; he alleged that these actions prompted him to shoot as the vehicle containing his ex-girlfriend and the victim sped away from the scene.
However, surveillance footage obtained from the area contraindicated Rodriguez's account of the events showing not only that Rodriguez was not hit by the projectiles he claimed but also depicting Rodriguez emerging from his residence well after the eggs and rocks had been thrown, and the vehicle was driving away, an act demonstrating the unnecessary and hasty escalation of a petty dispute into a dangerous altercation with a woman injured as a consequence; the signed affidavit summarizing the investigation noted, "Based on the investigation conducted, the defendant provided an inaccurate statement to police where he attempted to justify the shooting; where the video clearly depicts he shot at the vehicle as it sped off and did not pose a threat to him (defendant) and/or anyone," as reported by NBC Miami.
Currently held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Rodriguez faces charges that include attempted second-degree murder and discharging a deadly missile, with Local 10 indicating that his bail status was listed as "to be set" at the time of reporting.
