A Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder of his younger sister and the shooting of both of his parents earlier this year. Gerardo Jimenez-Rico, 32, pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide, attempted second-degree intentional homicide, and first-degree reckless injury in connection with the January 2025 attack.
A Milwaukee County judge handed down the sentence, which includes an additional 19 years of supervised release after his time in prison.
The Tragic Incident
The crime took place on January 22, 2025, at a residence in Milwaukee. According to the police, officers responded to a shooting at approximately 6:45 p.m. When they arrived at the home on West Cheyenne Street, they found three victims with gunshot wounds.
The youngest victim, 22-year-old Jocelyn Jimenez, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two other victims, Jimenez-Rico’s parents, were seriously injured.
Jimenez-Rico’s mother, one of the survivors, managed to identify him as the shooter, telling officers that her son had attacked the family. Just as police were beginning their search for him, Jimenez-Rico walked into the District One Milwaukee Police Station and confessed to the shooting.
He admitted to attacking his family, saying he was “fed up” with being bullied by them.
Motive Behind the Attack
In his confession, Jimenez-Rico told detectives that his family had just returned from a month-long trip to Mexico and that he had not been able to join them due to financial constraints. He explained that tensions had been building for some time, as he felt constantly criticized and belittled by his parents and sister.
The conflict on the day of the shooting began when his father came down to complain about dirty dishes in the sink, which Jimenez-Rico said were due to a clogged pipe that needed attention.
According to Jimenez-Rico, the argument escalated when his father continued to criticize him, and his sister joined in. He claimed that this ongoing pattern of bullying from his family had gone on for years, and he was simply “fed up.”
After being told by his father that he needed to find another place to live, Jimenez-Rico said he lost his temper. He then took a handgun from his waistband, pointed it at his father, and fired several shots.
When his sister, Jocelyn, reportedly armed herself with a knife, Jimenez-Rico claimed that he shot her to protect himself. An autopsy later confirmed that she had been struck by four bullets in her chest, lungs, back, and arm.
As his mother entered the room, Jimenez-Rico fired at her as well, although he claimed that he did not intend to shoot her and could not explain why he did.
Legal Consequences
Jimenez-Rico’s plea deal resulted in a 35-year prison sentence for the reckless homicide of his sister, as well as attempted homicide charges for shooting his father and mother. In addition to the prison sentence, he will be required to serve 19 years of supervised release after his incarceration.
The case has shocked the community, as it highlights the tragic consequences of family dynamics gone horribly wrong.
This heartbreaking case underscores the tension that can arise in families, especially when individuals feel misunderstood or unfairly treated. Gerardo Jimenez-Rico’s actions on that fateful night led to the loss of his sister’s life and left his parents seriously injured.
While his sentence cannot undo the pain caused, it serves as a reminder of the need for communication and support in resolving conflicts within families before they escalate into violence.
