A 15-year-old is currently in custody, facing charges of capital murder following the tragic shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend’s mother and two children in West Texas. This distressing incident has sent shockwaves through the community.

On Tuesday, officers from the Odessa Police Department responded to a call about a shooting at the 87th Street Apartments. Upon arrival, they discovered three victims who had been fatally shot: Jessica Rodriguez, aged 39, along with her 9-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.

The young suspect was not present at the scene when police arrived. Authorities located him about 40 minutes later, and he was subsequently taken into custody. It has been reported that the suspect was the former boyfriend of Rodriguez’s 15-year-old daughter, adding a layer of complexity to the tragic events.

According to the police, the suspect initially planned to target his ex-girlfriend at her school. However, he altered his plans and instead went to her home, leading to the devastating outcome.

During a news conference held on Wednesday, Odessa Police Chief Mike Gerke expressed his sorrow and condemnation of the incident, describing the shooting as a “tragic and cowardly act of violence.” His words echoed the sentiments of many in the community grappling with the loss and seeking answers.

Gerke announced that the 15-year-old ex-girlfriend was not physically harmed, stating, “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.”

Gerke did not specify whether the teenage girl was present during the shooting. He did indicate, according to CBS News, that the shooting had been intentional and specifically targeted the three victims.

The shooting and the related circumstances are still being investigated. Garke did not provide any details regarding a motive.

The 15-year-old suspect is being detained at the Ector County Youth Center.

Check back for updates.

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