A Wisconsin teen has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison following the tragic, unintentional shooting of his 10-year-old cousin. Javier Rodriguez, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of reckless homicide in the second degree for the May 2024 death of Isdennyeliz Ortiz, who was killed while sleeping in her mother’s bed.
On Thursday, Rodriguez was sentenced in Milwaukee County to 10 years in prison, with credit for nearly 14 months spent in pretrial detention. After serving his prison sentence, Rodriguez will spend eight years on supervised release.
The shooting occurred on May 31, 2024, in a split-level home on West Orchard Street on Milwaukee’s south side, where all residents were family members. Isdennyeliz was asleep in her mother’s bed around 12:40 a.m. when a bullet from a gun discharged through the ceiling and struck her in the chest. She died shortly after.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by local news outlets, the girl’s mother reported that her nephew, Rodriguez, came downstairs shortly after the shooting and explained that he had been playing with a gun when it accidentally went off. The teenager fled the scene before police arrived but was arrested a few days later.
Rodriguez, who was living on the top floor of the house, was allegedly handling the gun when it discharged, sending the bullet through a couch cushion, the floor, and ceiling, ultimately hitting Isdennyeliz. The fatal shot struck her chest as she lay in bed next to her mother and baby brother.
The mother recalled her daughter’s final moments: “She heard [Isdennyeliz] say ‘ouch,’ and when she asked if she was alright and shook her, she received no response. She turned on the light, only to see that her daughter had been shot in the chest and was bleeding.”
Rodriguez reportedly confessed his actions in the immediate aftermath. “It’s my fault,” he told the girl’s mother, apologizing repeatedly. He also made similar statements to the family before fleeing the scene.
Rodriguez’s grandmother recalled being awakened by her grandson coming into her room shortly after the incident, asking if they were okay. Moments later, his father arrived, informing them of the tragedy. Rodriguez had been playing with the gun, which caused the fatal discharge.
Police were able to identify Rodriguez through security camera footage. In the video, Rodriguez is seen carrying a gun and wearing a blue rubber glove just before the shooting, followed by a loud bang. The footage shows him frantically running through the back of the house before stopping when his grandfather enters the camera view.
Investigators revealed that this was not the first incident involving the firearms in the house. A previous shot had been fired a month before the fatal incident, traveling from the upper floor into the living room but fortunately not injuring anyone.
During the investigation, several firearms were found at Rodriguez’s residence, including three loaded semi-automatic pistols, along with magazines and ammunition.
Before reaching a plea deal, Rodriguez had faced up to 25 years in prison for the shooting. His sentencing concludes a heart-wrenching tragedy for the Ortiz family, who must now cope with the loss of Isdennyeliz, a young girl taken too soon due to an accident involving a firearm that was left in the wrong hands.
