A local resident who shot a man dead during an argument over dog poop has been sentenced to life in prison almost ten years later.
Omar Rodriguez, now 75, shot and killed Jose Rey, 52, on his son’s lawn in Miami on June 21, 2015. He died a week later at Kendall Regional Hospital.
The bad neighbor was eventually convicted in May of second-degree murder and aggravated assault for threatening Rey’s wife, Lissette Rey.
“Your Honor, the most severe sentence has been imposed on a coward, a murderer,” Lissette told Judge Milton Hirsch during sentencing on Thursday.
Rodriguez exploded in anger in Miami-Dade court, ripped off his mask and went off on Lissette
Lissette speaks to the press after the sentence is passed, happy that Rodriguez will likely die in prison, but wishes he had been sentenced to death
Rodriguez exploded in anger in Miami-Dade court, ripped off his mask and went after Lissette.
“That coward was your husband. That’s why I killed him… He cried like a baby,” he screamed.
It took seven guards to drag him from the courtroom and even when he was outside, streams of obscenities rang out as Lissette continued to speak.
“I pray he spends the rest of his pathetic existence in prison. He’s a narcissistic piece of shit.”
Unless he lives past the age of 100, Rodriguez will die in prison, as he will not be eligible for parole until 2049.
Jose Rey, 52, was shot and killed in Miami on June 21, 2015, and died a week later at Kendall Regional Hospital
Rey is depicted with his wife Lissette Rey and children before his death
“At the end of the day, Mr. Rodriguez will continue to see his family. They can visit him and see him. I will never see my husband again,” Rey’s widow said.
It took seven guards to drag him out of the courtroom and even when he was outside, streams of obscenity could be heard as Lissette continued
Even before the fatal shooting, Rodriguez was seen as a dangerous threat by his neighbors. After his death, they all supported Rey and his family.
His conflicts with neighbors from the Miami suburbs of Coral Gables to Kendall date back to the early 1990s — including at least 140 in the seven years before 2015.
A desperate resident wrote a letter to then-Governor Lawton Chiles, complaining that Rodriguez had declared war on his neighbors.
He was armed with weapons, there was a lot of shouting on the street and once he threatened a lawn mower with a machete, the neighbor warned.
Police consistently stated that his actions, while reprehensible, were not necessarily criminal, and no charges were ever filed.
His only known criminal history before the murder was assault on a police officer in 1994, for which he received only probation.
Witnesses told police that Rodriguez followed Rey and Lissette in his car as they walked their dog around 9:30 p.m.
The couple were talking to another neighbor at the time and Rey decided to take the dog home before continuing the conversation with his neighbor and wife.
On his way home, he crossed Rodriguez’s son’s lawn and his dog began to defecate on it. Rodriguez parked his car, flashed his lights, and accelerated before confronting Rey.
An argument ensued and Rey moved on. On his way back to talk to his wife and neighbor, he ran into Rodriguez again, who had taken off his shirt in preparation for a fight.
After more confrontations, he shot Rey three times as the latter raised his arms in the air and walked backwards.
When Lissette tried to comfort her mortally wounded husband, Rodriguez threatened her as well.
Lissette embraces family and supporters, including neighbors, in court
Rodriguez asked for the charges to be dropped under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, but a judge ruled in 2021 that he did not act in self-defense.
As part of his defense, he claimed that Rey came at him with a knife, but neighbors said they saw him put the knife next to Rey and even tried to slam it into his hand.
Rodriguez showed no remorse whatsoever throughout the trial, and prosecutors released a recording of him stating: “If I had to do it again, I would do it the same way.’
His attorney Bruce Lehr continued to apologize to him, even after the conviction.
“This started with a community that came together and hated the suspect in this case. And the hatred on all sides boiled over into an unfortunate death,” he said NBC.
‘Emotions continue to run high and were heightened by the verdict… I hope everyone remembers the circumstances.’
Judge Milton Hirsch sentenced Rodriguez to life in prison and made him ineligible for parole until at least 2049.