A young Cuban man, 18 years old, was arrested in the city of Hialeah charged with second-degree attempted murder following a shooting that occurred in the early hours of January 11th.
The suspect, identified as Jason Alejandro Rodríguez, also faces two charges for throwing or discharging a deadly object, after allegedly firing shots at a vehicle carrying two women.
What was initially reported as an act of vandalism later evolved into a high-profile criminal case.
An act of provocation that escalated dangerously
The events unfolded around 2:20 a.m. on Sunday when the Hialeah Police received an alert from Mount Sinai Hospital about a woman injured by gunfire.
The victim, identified as “Peña,” had an injury to her arm and was interviewed by the agents at the medical center.
According to his testimony, the shot came from the ex-boyfriend of his companion, who was driving the vehicle.
Both women had thrown eggs at Rodríguez’s home moments before the shooting.
The other party involved, “Córdova,” confirmed this version in an independent affidavit recorded on video.
It was a confrontation with personal overtones, given that Rodríguez had previously been in a romantic relationship with Córdova.
However, the provocation—consisting of throwing eggs and stones at the house—was met with armed violence.
The defendant’s version: An alleged act of defense
Jason Alejandro Rodríguez was located by agents shortly after the incident.
In a voluntary statement following the reading of his rights, Miranda, the young man, stated that he was startled by the sounds of objects being thrown against his vehicle.
He said he was struck in the chest, and he even thought he saw a “green laser” aimed at him, which led him to grab a firearm and shoot at the departing car.
Rodríguez asserted that he acted in self-defense after feeling threatened.
According to him, the use of the weapon was an instinctive reaction to what he perceived as a potential armed aggression.
However, at that moment, the police lacked independent witnesses or recordings that could confirm or refute their account.
For that reason, all parties involved were initially released while the investigation was underway.
The video evidence contradicts the account
The direction of the case changed drastically when detectives from the Hialeah Police Department obtained surveillance videos from the area where the events took place.
The recordings contradicted Rodríguez’s account. According to the visual evidence:
-Rodríguez was not hit by eggs or stones.
-She left her house after these objects had already been thrown.
The women’s vehicle was already leaving the location when the accused opened fire.
-There are no signs of any green laser pointing at you.
The cameras captured him, additionally using the light from his cellphone to pick up what appear to be spent shell casings after the shooting, before returning to his residence.
For researchers, these elements are conclusive.
Rodríguez’s actions cannot be considered self-defense, as there was no real or imminent threat against him or others at the time of the shooting.
According to the report, “the video evidence shows that the accused provided an inaccurate statement in an attempt to justify the shooting.”
Based on the findings, Jason Alejandro Rodríguez appeared on Monday, January 12, at the Hialeah Police Department, where he was formally arrested and transferred to the county’s correctional system.
The prosecution has charged him with two counts of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of shooting a deadly object.
So far, no bail has been set for the young Cuban, who is facing potentially severe penalties under Florida’s criminal law.
The police have been emphatic in their message to the public: “No form of vandalism justifies the use of lethal force, especially when there is no immediate threat,” a spokesperson warned.
“Taking justice into one’s own hands is not only illegal, but it can also have tragic consequences,” he added.