Capital murder charges filed against suspected serial killer

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - A man suspected in a series of crimes in the Houston area has been charged with two counts of capital murder.

Jose Gilberto Rodriguez was charged with capital murder for the deaths of a Cypress woman killed in her home and a man killed at a Mattress One store in north Houston. Police say a third charge is pending and will likely be filed tomorrow.

Jose Gilberto Rodriguez was arrested at Eldridge and Fallbrook after a brief police chase Tuesday morning. Houston Police and Harris County Sheriff’s Office helped in the pursuit and arrest of Rodriguez.

The Houston Police Department had asked for the public's help in locating him.

He's the person of interest in a series of crimes, including three murders, in the Houston area.

Police identified the person of interest as Rodriguez, 46.

They pursued him after he was seen driving a car they had previously identified.

Monday afternoon Houston police found yet another gruesome scene.

A man was found dead inside of a Mattress One store at Crosstimbers and I-45.

During a press conference, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez released a picture of Rodriguez.

They said they believe he is connected to that case, a murder at a Mattress Firm off of 1960, a murder at a home in Cypress, an aggravated assault against a METRO Lift bus driver and a home invasion back on July 9.

“He’s about 46 years of age, he’s a male Hispanic, 5’7”, 135 pounds, with black hair. Actually he’s pretty much bald but his natural hair color is black and he’s got as you can see tattoos around his neck,” says Chief Acevedo.

Rodriguez has a known criminal record going back to 1989 and is also listed as a sex offender.

“He’s a parole absconder and so he cut his monitor just a matter of days ago,” Chief Acevedo says.

Police say they believe he stole a 2017 dark gray Nissan Sentra with plates that read “KPD 2805” while at the Mattress One location and that he might still have it.

“This individual has the propensity to change vehicles quite often, so he may not necessarily be in this vehicle, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says. “He’s been known to frequent kind of the East Texas cord or maybe the 45 N. corridor and also the Cypress northwest Houston area as well.”

Rodriguez is a known gang member and most recently known to case neighborhoods wearing a cap, going up to doors and asking folks if they have seen someone.

Police urge folks that if you see him call 911 and be careful.

“We need the community to help us find this vehicle as soon as possible if you spot it do not approach it do not approach this individual contact 911 right away,” Chief Acevedo says.

Police say it's been a week filled with murder and mayhem all at the hands of Jose Gilberto Rodriguez.

"We got at least one, two, three homicides, one aggravated robbery, attempted murder and one home invasion robbery," said Houston Police Chief Art  Acevedo.

The crimes law officers are aware of began with a home invasion robbery on July 9 in the 1200 block of Foxsboro.

On Friday, July 13, Rodriguez's alleged crime spree turned deadly. At 6:30 p.m., 62-year-old Pamela Johnson was found dead inside her Cypress home at 12402 Bent Pine.

Her 2014 PT Cruiser was found on Saturday in the parking lot of Willowbrook Mall.

Rodriguez can be seen on surveillance video walking through the mall.

"Since the first murder with Mrs. Johnson, they've been working around the clock trying to connect all the different pieces," said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Also on Saturday, right across the street from Willowbrook Mall, a manager at the Mattress Firm, 28-year-old Allie Barrow, was shot to death.

Her car was also stolen.

"This guys motive appears to be robbery in a lot of cases," Acevedo says.

At 4 a.m. Monday, police say Rodriguez shot and wounded a contract METRO Lift driver. It happened in a Shell Station parking lot in the 2800 block of Quitman. The 22-year-old driver is listed in critical but stable condition.

"We can't release all the details but all these cases we feel have some linkage to each other and so we're going to continue to tighten those," Gonzalez said.

Anyone with information on Rodriguez's whereabouts is asked to call HCSO Homicide at (713)274-9100 or the Houston Police Department at (713)308-8888. Authorities say Rodriguez should be considered extremely dangerous and possibly armed and should not be engaged if you encounter him.