ODESSA, Texas — A hush has fallen over a quiet apartment complex on Hunter Miller Way, as police continue to unravel the details of a tragedy that left three lives — a mother and her two children — shattered on a Tuesday evening.
At around 5:45 p.m. on December 9, officers with the Odessa Police Department responded to a shooting at the 87th Street Apartments, located at 8740 Hunter Miller Way. Inside, they discovered the bodies of three victims: 39-year-old Jessica Rodriguez, her 9-year-old son, and her 13-year-old daughter — all fatally wounded.
Within about 30 minutes of the call, police apprehended a 15-year-old boy near Andrews Highway. He is now being held at the Ector County Youth Center and has been charged with capital murder of multiple persons, a capital felony. His identity remains shielded from public view because of his age.
According to Police Chief Mike Gerke, the teen’s original plan was not to attack this family — his target was his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend, whom he intended to confront after school. But instead, he went to her home and opened fire. Authorities say the girlfriend was unharmed, though emotionally devastated. It remains unclear whether she was present at the time of the shooting.
Police confirmed the weapon used was a handgun. As of now, they have not revealed how many times the gun was fired nor how the shooter obtained it. Investigators are currently tracing the purchase history of the firearm and following leads on how it came into the teen’s possession.
Meanwhile, the pain reverberates beyond the walls of that apartment. The victims’ father, Roy Martinez, has launched a fundraiser to honor the lives of his wife and children. In a message on the fundraising page, he wrote candidly about the depth of his grief: this was a tragedy no parent expects to face, and now he’s left with no choice but to reach out for help.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives are still trying to piece together what led the teen to change his plan and detour to the apartment instead of the school, and whether anyone else played a role in facilitating the crime. More details about the motive, timeline, and events leading up to the shooting are expected to be released in coming days.
