4 people charged in connection to shooting death of man found on side of Texas City highway

TEXAS CITY, Texas (KTRK) -- Four people are charged in connection to a man's murder over Labor Day weekend in Texas City.

Texas City police said officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Highway 146, on the southbound feeder road, in response to shots fired at 4:42 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3.

At the scene, they found the body of a man on the shoulder of the road, partially in a lane of traffic. The victim, later identified as 40-year-old Juan Alvarez, had been shot multiple times, police said.

He was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

There was somebody who witnessed the shooting, according to an affidavit ABC13 obtained from the Galveston County District Attorney's Office.

It states the witness was blindfolded, beaten, and told not to tell police what he saw.

He was allegedly dumped in a room at the Executive Inn and Suites in southeast Houston and woke up having no idea where he was.

The affidavit states detectives went to Alvarez's house after they discovered his body to notify his wife.

A Ring camera on their house reportedly shows Alvarez being picked up by a man, identified as Aaron Rodriguez.

In the passenger seat was a man named Mardo Palma, the affidavit states.

Palma told investigators Rodriguez and Alvarez were arguing, and then Alvarez fired a shot out the window.

At some point, the gun jammed, and Rodriguez grabbed it, shooting Alvarez nine times, according to the affidavit.

Then, Palma said he was tied up and blindfolded by Rodriguez and two females.

Surveillance video from the Executive Inn and Suites shows Palma being helped into a room by Aaron Rodriguez, Tara Rodriguez, Cassie Lopez, and a fourth person.

The affidavit says everyone but Palma is seen leaving the room.

It then says Palma woke up in the hotel room, went to the hospital, and gave investigators all this information.

Detectives also found two destroyed phones in the dumpster at the Executive Inn and Suites. They discovered one belonged to the victim and the other to Palma.

Investigators were able to identify the four suspects involved in the death of Alvarez. All four were arrested and booked into jail on the following charges:

• Aaron Rodriguez is charged with murder and aggravated kidnapping. His bond was set at $400,000 total for the two charges.

• Cassie Lopez and Tara Rodriguez were both charged with aggravated kidnapping, and their bonds were set at $250,000 each.

• Michael Hernandez was also charged with aggravated kidnapping, but his bond was set at $300,000.

Texas City PD said Aaron and Tara Rodriguez are being held in the Galveston County Jail.

Lopez is currently in the Brazoria County Jail, and Hernandez is in the Harris County Jail, but police said both will be transferred to Galveston at a later date.