A 19-year-old Wisconsin resident, Javier Rodriguez, has been sentenced to a decade in prison for a reckless homicide that resulted in the death of a 10-year-old girl. Rodriguez pleaded guilty in June to the second-degree homicide of Isdennyeliz Ortiz, which occurred in 2024. The sentencing took place in Milwaukee County, where the judge also credited Rodriguez for the nearly 14 months he spent in pretrial detention. Following his prison term, Rodriguez will be under supervised release for eight years.
The tragic incident unfolded on May 31, 2024, in a three-story house on West Orchard Street in Milwaukee’s south side. The house was occupied by related individuals, including the victim and the defendant. Ortiz was sleeping in her mother’s bed when a bullet, fired from the upper floor of the house, pierced the ceiling and struck her.
According to the police report, Rodriguez, who was 18 at the time, had been playing with a firearm when it accidentally discharged. The bullet reportedly traveled through a couch cushion, the floor, and the ceiling of the upper unit where Rodriguez resided, before fatally hitting Ortiz in the chest. Rodriguez left the scene before the police arrived but was arrested and charged a few days later.
The victim’s mother recounted the horrifying moment when she realized her daughter had been shot. She heard Ortiz say “ouch,” and when she didn’t respond to her mother’s queries, the mother turned on the light to find Ortiz bleeding from a chest wound and a fresh bullet hole in the ceiling.
Rodriguez reportedly admitted his fault to the victim’s mother, saying, “It’s my fault. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” The victim’s 14-year-old sister also recalled Rodriguez expressing similar sentiments of guilt and remorse.
The defendant’s grandmother shared her account of the incident, stating that Rodriguez had rushed into her room asking if they were okay, followed by his father who informed her of the tragic accident.
Security camera footage played a crucial role in identifying Rodriguez as the defendant. The footage showed Rodriguez, his father, and a third person near an above-ground swimming pool, with Rodriguez visibly carrying a firearm. Moments later, a loud bang was heard.
The investigation also revealed that a shot had been fired in the residence about a month before the fatal incident. However, no one was injured in that instance. During the investigation, several firearms were discovered at the Rodriguez residence.
Before accepting a plea deal, Rodriguez was facing a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.