‘Cowardly Act of Violence’ Texas Teenager Charged With Capital Murder After Killing Ex-Girlfriend’s Family [WATCH]

A 15-year-old Texas boy has been charged with capital murder after police say he killed his ex-girlfriend’s mother and her two younger siblings in a targeted shooting at a luxury apartment complex in Odessa, Texas, as reported by The New York Post.

Odessa police said officers responded to reports of a shooting at the Eighty-Seventh Apartments around 5:45 p.m.

Tuesday. Inside the apartment, officers found Jennifer Rodriguez, 39, dead along with her 13-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

15yr old allegedly kills ex-girlfriend’s family over breakup

Police in Odessa, Texas, say a 15-year-old boy fatally shot his ex-girlfriend’s mother and her two younger children in what they described as a targeted and “cowardly act of violence.” pic.twitter.com/ObR2slrwDs

— Rifnote (@viarifnote) December 12, 2025

According to investigators, the suspect is a 15-year-old boy who previously had a relationship with Rodriguez’s 15-year-old daughter. Because of his age, authorities have not publicly identified him.

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Police revealed that the teen initially planned to shoot the girl outside of her school but changed his plans and instead went to the apartment.

Authorities said the teenage girl was not physically injured during the attack. Police did not disclose whether she was inside the apartment at the time of the shooting.

“She is OK, she wasn’t injured … I’m sure after all this happened to her family, she’s not OK. But physically she was unharmed,” Odessa Police Chief Mike Gerke said during a press conference Wednesday.

After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene on foot. Gerke said law enforcement identified the suspect quickly and launched a search. The teen was located and taken into custody approximately 40 minutes after the shooting.

“From the time that it happened, we knew almost immediately who the suspect was, and then to locate him, he was detained within 40 minutes,” Gerke said.

The suspect has been charged with capital murder of multiple persons, a capital felony under Texas law. He is currently being held at the Ector County Youth Center.

Investigators recovered a handgun believed to have been used in the shooting. Gerke said authorities are aware of who purchased the firearm, but did not disclose how the teenager obtained it.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing and are awaiting confirmation that the recovered weapon was used in the killings.

Police said the shooting was a targeted attack and confirmed there was no gang involvement. As of Wednesday, investigators had not released a motive.

The children’s father, Roy Casey Martinez, confirmed the deaths of his two children and ex-wife in a message posted to a GoFundMe fundraiser created to assist the family.

“Today, a young boy took the lives of my 9-year-old son, my 13-year-old daughter, and their mother, who was my ex-wife,” Martinez wrote.

“This is something that no one can really prepare themselves for because we don’t expect this kind of tragedy to happen to any of us. I am not a person who ever asks for help from anyone, but at this time, I don’t have a choice.”

“My heart is extremely broken and I keep finding little pieces at a time wondering which piece goes where!! It will never be complete anymore but as long as I keep picking up these small pieces maybe one day it’ll form some type of shape again!!” he added.

Gerke described the incident as senseless violence that has deeply affected the community.

“Evil does visit us from time to time,” Gerke said.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends, anyone connected with the tragedy last night. It was such a tragic and cowardly act of violence,” he added.

JUST IN: 15-year-old boy accused of k*lling his ex-girlfriend’s mother, 9-year-old brother, and 13-year-old sister

Officials said he had planned to sh**t his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend outside of school but went to her home instead

There, he shot the girl’s mother, 39-year-old… pic.twitter.com/nkFBT3mKxl

— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) December 11, 2025

Texas law allows for the death penalty in capital murder cases, but the sentence does not apply to defendants who were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime.

The case remains under investigation.

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