A Sunday night murder in Carmelita village has left a family with more questions than answers after their loved one was shot and killed while walking home. 45 year old Hugo Rodriguez was a father of 3 - but he got shot almost a dozen times after a petty dispute at a village store. Jomarie Lanza has the story:
A father of three, 45 year old Hugo Rodriguez was gunned down on Sunday night while walking home after purchasing from a store in Carmelita Village. ACP Hilberto Romero told us today that Rodriguez had gotten into an altercation with three men he had met at the store earlier that night. Upon leaving the establishment two of them followed most likely with the intention of harming Rodriguez.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Oc Eastern Division
"On Sunday 17th December, 2023 around 8:50pm police responded to a shooting incident at Carmelita Village. Upon their arrival they found Hugo Rodriguez, 45 years, with gunshot injuries. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigations revealed that Hugo Rodriguez went to a store and he had an altercation with 3 male persons and thereafter he headed home. Whilst entering his yard that's where he was approached by 2 male persons who fired the shots causing his fatal injury. We have 3 persons in custody and they are being interviewed. The investigation continues. We are trying to find the motive. At some point he was followed when he went home."
Though three of the suspects have been detained, police have yet to establish a motive behind this cold killing. Police discovered 6 9 mm shells at the scene and Rodriguez's post mortem revealed that he was shot 11 times. But why would anyone want this mason dead? His father in law says that the family has no knowledge as to why anyone would want to kill him:
Voice of: Father in law
"It was after 8:30 I think we were at home, we had just came back from buying when they called my son and told us what happened. Just after 7 we had gone to the store and we saw him there but we never thought that when they would have called us that, that would have happened."
Reporter
"Do you know if he had problems with anybody in the village?"
Voice of: Father in law
"No no I heard he had a problem, but with whom?? He goes out to buy and maybe have a beer but we never thought that it would be a serious problem with someone."
Reporter
"What kind of person was your son in law?"
Voice of: Father in law
"For me he was a good friend."
Reporter
"How many kids did he have?"
Voice of: Father in law
"Here with us he has three, the littlest one is only a month old."
Police had detained a 19 year old villager - but no charges have been brought.
We note that teenagers are the prime suspects in both weekend murders.
