Police in Houston, Texas, have identified and launched a manhunt for a “person of strong interest” believed to be responsible for at least three killings last week, including two incidents at separate mattress stores on Sunday and Monday respectively. Police Chief Art Acevedo and Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez held a joint news conference Monday to warn the public against Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, 46, who, although not charged for any of the crimes, was called a possible “serial killer, armed and dangerous.” "He's been on a rampage in a series of murders," Acevedo said, CBS News reported. "Let's get this man off the street as soon as possible." The Houston Police tweeted out a picture of the suspect, along with his personal details. Rodriguez is five feet nine inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. He is bald with tattoos on his neck and other parts of his body including on the top of his head. Police believe he may be wearing ball caps to cover the tattoo on his head. Investigators believe Rodriguez may be driving a dark grey 2017 Nissan Sentra with Texas license plate K-P-D-2-8-0-5. Rodriguez is a parolee who was released from prison last year. Police believe he managed to get his ankle monitor removed before going on a murdering spree. Rodriguez committed the murders by knocking on the victims' front doors pretending to look for someone, they said. According to Eye Witness News, Rodriguez has an extensive criminal record, dating back to 1986. He was convicted for crimes such as burglary, attempted aggravated sex abuse, auto theft, and criminal trespass. He was also convicted on a sex offense charge involving a 16-year-old female, for which he received a prison sentence of 20 years. In addition, he also got sentenced to 25 years in 1990 for burglary of a habitation. He was considered a high" risk-level sex offender, and after getting released on parole in September 2017, he was registered with the Dallas County Sheriff's Office in December 2017. Rodriguez became a person of interest after deputies found Pamela Johnson, 62, a widow in Cypress, Texas, dead inside her house Friday. Her home was burgled and among the things stolen were television, computer and jewelry, detectives said. Her car — a PT Cruiser — was also missing, which was later found abandoned in the parking lot of Willowbrook Mall by police. After checking the surveillance footages of the mall, police found a man matching Rodriguez’s description leaving from the opposite side of the mall. The detectives have since connected Johnson’s death to two more killings — Allie Barrow, 28, a young employee who was shot to death inside a Mattress Firm store near the mall, and an unidentified male victim fatally shot inside a Mattress One store. A Metro Lyft driver was also believed to be shot by the same man who killed the other victims. The driver was shot near Highway 59 and Quitman on Monday but he survived. The police also believe Rodriguez was behind a house invasion and robbery in north Harris County on July 9. They have warned residents not to approach any man fitting the description and photo of Rodriguez if they happen to spot him on the streets as he is considered armed and dangerous. Photo: Getty Images/ Lawrence Jenkins<doc-sep>(CNN) — If not for the sharp eye of a Houston resident, authorities say, a possible serial killer may have zeroed in on his next target. But Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, a parolee suspected in three killings over the past several days, was taken into custody Tuesday morning, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. Houston Police Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, a registered sex offender, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. “It’s possible he was casing the neighborhood in search of his next victim,” the sheriff said. “So thanks to the alert work of that citizen and swift action, we were able to get involved.” Gonzalez said the tipster spotted a suspicious vehicle early Tuesday. It was the same Nissan Sentra that police said Rodriguez was likely driving. After that resident called police, authorities realized Rodriguez was still in the car. Following a 14-minute pursuit through the neighborhood, Rodriguez was taken into custody without incident. Deputy Jorge Reyes, who initiated the traffic stop when the license plate came back stolen, said once Rodriguez realized he couldn’t escape, he pulled over and put his hands out the window. Deputies found a pistol in the car. “He didn’t say anything,” said Reyes, who has been with the sheriff’s office for 4 1/2 years. Forensic information that would tell whether the handgun was used in any of the crimes won’t be available until Wednesday, Det. David Crane of the sheriff’s office said. Rodriguez is accused of two of the killings, Crane said. A third possible holding charge of capital murder could be added Wednesday after Houston police look at the evidence. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday. The suspect was interviewed but didn’t divulge much and made no admission of guilt, he said. Rodriguez’s arrest came hours after the sheriff warned of “a possible serial killer” on the loose. KPRC Police alerted the public to Rodriguez's car and photo. Rodriguez, 46, is a registered sex offender who is on parole. Police said he cut off his ankle monitor a few days before the first shooting. The first victim, Pamela Johnson, 62, was found dead Friday night inside her home in northwest Harris County after her family called authorities because they couldn’t reach her. Johnson’s car was stolen from her home and later discovered at a nearby mall. That’s when the Harris County Sheriff’s Office reviewed the mall’s surveillance video and made a connection with the suspect. Two other people were found dead at different mattress stores Saturday and Monday. Authorities said they also believe Rodriguez robbed a Metro bus driver early Monday and shot a driver last week. The driver who was shot is in serious condition but is stable and able to talk with his family, officials said. Police have not released a possible motive in the killings. Crane said there is nothing to indicate a connection between any of the victims. Gonzalez said the suspect has family members that live in the neighborhood where he was captured. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told reporters that authorities are trying to determine whether Rodriguez committed other crimes they don’t yet know about. He also said Harris County is looking to form a task force that would focus on parolees who had committed serious crimes. “We’ve got to up our game, because there’s not enough to deal with parolees,” he said. “But we’re going to change that.” CNN’s Jamiel Lynch and Lauren Leslie contributed to this report.<doc-sep>The victims were attacked in mattress stores, houses and a city bus. The man stole their cars, or knocked on random doors, pretending to be looking for an acquaintance when he was really in search of people to assault and rob, the authorities in Houston said. For the past week, law enforcement officials in Harris County and the Houston area have warned residents not to open their doors to strangers, saying a murderer — possibly a serial killer — was on the loose. On Tuesday morning, after a 15-minute car chase in which he was driving a victim’s vehicle, Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, 46, was arrested as the suspect in the string of three killings and two violent robberies. Mr. Rodriguez, a registered sex offender who was on parole, had cut his ankle monitor before he allegedly embarked on the spree that started on July 9 in the county’s northwestern neighborhoods, the authorities said.<doc-sep>
Police in Houston, Texas, are warning people not to approach a possible "armed and extremely dangerous" serial killer who is accused of committing three homicides during the past week. Jose Gilberto Rodriguez, 46, has been linked to series of attacks, including three shooting deaths, while going on a "rampage" across Harris County and Houston. Officers believe Rodriguez first attacked someone during a home invasion and robbery on July 9. On July 13, he is then suspected to have shot dead Pamela Johnson, 62, at her home in Cypress before stealing her car, reports the Houston Chronicle. The next day (Saturday July 14) Rodriguez is alleged to have shot Mattress Firm employee Allie Barrow, 28, who was found dead in the back of the store by her manager. He later allegedly shot dead another Mattress One employee, Edward Magana, who worked at another store at a shopping center less than two miles away, on Monday afternoon, reports KPRC. On Monday (July 16), a Metro driver was shot and robbed at a gas station in another attack linked to Rodriguez. The male victim, reported to be 22, was taken to hospital. Police are now appealing for help to capture the suspect believed to be responsible for the recent attacks and murders. "We have serious concerns that this individual will strike again," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said during a press conference. "The sooner we get him into custody, the sooner we can all breathe a little better," Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo added. Rodriguez is described as a Hispanic male, around 5 feet 7 inches, 135 pounds, thin build, with distinctive tattoos on his neck and the top of his head. Police also confirmed the suspect, a registered sex offender, is currently on parole for weapons charges and cut off his ankle monitor a few days ago. He is believed to be driving a dark gray 2017 Nissan Sentra with Texas license plate number KPD-2805. "A serial killer is three or more murders usually without a motive," Acevedo said. "This guy's motive appears to be robbery in a lot of cases." When asked why the suspect targeted two separate mattress store employees, Acevedo added "we don't care" and that capturing the suspect is all that currently matters with regards to the investigation. Rodriguez has been spotted in the Houston area knocking on people's doors pretending to be looking for someone, police warned. Anyone with information should call the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100.