Who Is Jose Gilberto Rodriguez? Suspected 'Serial Killer' On Loose In Houston

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.