A Wisconsin teen, Javier Rodriguez, 19, has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison for the tragic and unintentional shooting that resulted in the death of 10-year-old Isdennyeliz Ortiz. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in the second degree following the fatal incident that took place in May 2024. On Thursday, a judge in Milwaukee County sentenced him to 10 years in prison, with credit for nearly 14 months spent in pretrial detention. He will also face eight years of supervised release after serving his sentence.
The Fatal Incident
The incident occurred in the early hours of May 31, 2024, at a three-story home on Milwaukee’s south side. Isdennyeliz Ortiz was in her mother’s bed when a bullet, fired from above, struck her while she slept. The shooting was later determined to have been an accident, with Rodriguez, the 18-year-old nephew of Isdennyeliz’s mother, admitting to playing with a gun when it discharged.
The bullet reportedly passed through the couch on the top floor of the house, traveling down to the second-floor unit where Rodriguez lived. It then went through the floor and ceiling, fatally striking Isdennyeliz in the chest. Her mother, who was also in the bed with her younger son, heard the victim cry out in pain, but when she turned on the light, she found her daughter bleeding from the gunshot wound.
Rodriguez’s Admission of Guilt
In the moments following the fatal shot, Rodriguez was said to have gone downstairs, where he repeatedly apologized, saying it was his fault. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I did it,” he told his family, expressing deep regret over the tragic incident. His remorse was further supported by his grandmother’s testimony, which described Rodriguez’s frantic actions after the shooting. She recalled him entering her room shortly after the shooting, visibly shaken, and telling her that a tragedy had occurred.
Security Footage and Investigation
Investigators traced Rodriguez’s involvement through security camera footage, which showed him handling a tan firearm while wearing a blue rubber glove just before the shot was fired. The footage revealed him entering the house shortly before the shooting and running frantically afterward. Police also found several firearms at Rodriguez’s residence, including multiple loaded 9mm pistols, a drum magazine, and various rounds of ammunition.
This wasn’t the first time a gun had accidentally discharged in the house. A month earlier, another bullet had been fired inside the home but luckily didn’t injure anyone. Despite the prior warning signs, the presence of multiple firearms in the home led authorities to charge Rodriguez with reckless homicide.
The Court’s Decision
Before reaching a plea deal, Rodriguez was facing a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. The court, however, decided on a sentence of 10 years, which will be followed by eight years of supervised release. The tragic incident has deeply affected both the Ortiz and Rodriguez families, and the sentencing marks the conclusion of a difficult and painful chapter for all involved.
Javier Rodriguez’s sentencing highlights the tragic consequences of reckless behavior with firearms. While the shooting was unintentional, the outcome has forever changed the lives of Isdennyeliz’s family. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of gun safety and the devastating effects of careless actions.
