Police hunt for serial killer in crime spree that has left three dead

Police are looking for Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, 46, who may be driving a gray Nissan Sentra with the license plate KPD2805. Police are looking for Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, 46, who may be driving a gray Nissan Sentra with the license plate KPD2805. Photo: Houston Police Department Photo: Houston Police Department Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Police hunt for serial killer in crime spree that has left three dead 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Authorities on Monday were hunting for a man in connection with a weeklong crime spree that includes robberies and deadly shootings at a home and two separate Houston-area mattress stores.

At least three people have been fatally shot, authorities said Monday as they identified the suspect as 46-year-old Jose Gilberto Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was described as 5-foot-7 and 135 pounds. He should be considered "armed and dangerous," Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo warned at a news conference with Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

UPDATE: Man wanted in deadly crime spree in custody

They said investigators are looking for a vehicle they believe Rodriguez, a registered sex offender, may be driving: a gray Nissan Sentra with the license plate KPD2805.

"We need to be find this vehicle," Gonzalez said, adding that Rodriguez has the "propensity to change vehicles often."

Gonzalez, asked by a reporter if Rodriguez is considered a serial killer, responded: "Yes, that's what we're facing."

With northwest Harris County residents on edge, Gonzalez said the public should be on "very high alert."

Acevedo said the crime spree began July 9 with a home invasion and robbery on the 12000 block of Foxboro.

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Next, Pamela Johnson, 62, was killed and her car stolen from her home in Cypress, where she was found Friday by paramedics. A vigil was held for Johnson outside her home Sunday evening.

On Saturday, the manager of a Mattress Firm on FM 1960 in the Willowbrook area found a 28-year-old employee, Allie Barrow, shot in the head in the store's back office around 7 p.m, about an hour before the store usually closes.

Barrow's body was discovered stuffed between mattresses, ABC 13 reported.

Miranda Eason, a close friend of Barrow, described her as "smart, loving and caring."

"She lit up the whole room," Eason said. "Everyone loved her."

Employees at the two stores next door to that Mattress Firm said they did not hear any gunshots. Barrow was likely the only employee in the store at the time, said Delores Mendoza, who works nearby.

"That lady never has customers," Mendoza said.

Mattress Firm executives declined to discuss specifics of the shooting but offered condolences to all who knew the slain employee.

IN WILLOWBROOK: Mattress Firm employee found shot dead

"We're deeply saddened to learn that one of our team members was found deceased at a store in Houston," Mattress Firm CEO Steve Stagner said in a statement. "We send our sincere condolences to this team member's family, friends and loved ones."

After Barrow's killing, police were at the neighboring Willowbrook Mall, where a man suspected in Johnson's death was seen on surveillance video walking inside the mall. Johnson's missing car, a PT Cruiser, was found in the parking lot Saturday.

The crime spree continued early Monday with a shooting near Frenchtown.

Houston police said a convenience store clerk heard gunshots at 2800 Quitman around 3:30 a.m. before a Metro driver walked up and said he'd been shot.

The 22-year-old bus driver, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to the hospital in an unknown condition, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority. He was shot in the abdomen. By Monday afternoon, the driver was in critical condition, ABC 13 reported.

Next came a shooting at a different mattress store off Interstate 45 in north Houston.

Around 2:20 p.m. Monday, police received a call from the fire department requesting assistance at the 4400 block of North Freeway, near Crosstimbers, said HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva. When police arrived, they found a man who was the third victim. He worked at Mattress One.

"We lost a valued team member and were very saddened by the events that transpired. We are fully cooperating with all law enforcement to quickly bring justice to this matter," according to the Mattress One statement. "Out of respect for the team member, his family and the law enforcement investigation we will refrain from commenting further at this time."

Homicide detectives with both the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff's Office, as well as face-mask-clad investigators from the Houston Forensic Science Center, walked in and out of the mattress store as they investigated the third death.

At the news conference, Acevedo urged Rodriguez — if he was watching — to give up.

"Turn yourself in," Acevedo said. "It will be much better for you."

Source: Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff's Office | Created by data journalist Rachael Gleason

One of the last major serial killers identified in the Houston area was in 2011, when DNA connected a Houston man already charged in the death of a homeless woman to four other strangulations, and authorities said he could be linked to more deaths

Anyone with information is urged to call HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).



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