The man accused of killing one person and wounding five others in a shooting at an Orlando office where he once worked made his first appearance in court Saturday, and was ordered held without bond.
Jason Rodriguez, 40, said little more than his name during the two-minute proceeding.
Judge Walter Komanski said the court found probable cause and factual basis for Rodriguez' arrest and said he would be held without bond on a first-degree murder charge.
Now, I realize I'm often seen as soft on criminals, but when someone does something so crazy and is immediately charged with First Degree Murder, I wonder if it's right.
According to the charging affidavit, the fatality occurred when Rodriguez entered the suite, pulled a handgun from a holster under his shirt and shot twice at an employee who was standing near the receptionist's desk.
He then entered a common work area "firing multiple rounds and causing injuries to several other employees," it says, citing a witness.
To me that sounds extremely crazy. Is someone who does that not the very description of "temporarily insane?"
During the frightening episode several employees recognized him from two years earlier. When he was taken into custody he said, "I'm just going through a tough time right now, I'm sorry."
What's your opinion? Do you think we might be a little too quick to hold mentally ill people accountable for their crimes? Could that be part of the reason our prisons are so overcrowded?
I say a guy like this, and many others, should go straight to the mental hospital. What's your opinion?
By the way, did you notice he pulled the "handgun from a holster under his shirt." What does that sound like to you?
Please leave a comment.
"I say a guy like this, and many others, should go straight to the mental hospital. What's your opinion?"
ReplyDeleteSubstitute Mental Hospital for Gallows and you have my opinion.
So you place primary responsibility inanimate objects—since they cast spells that force people to murder others—and remove responsibility from the actual perpetrator, because they couldn't help themselves—they're crazy.
ReplyDeleteGuav has a great point.
ReplyDeleteRemember according to his Former Mother-In-Law his marriage went bad because he was violent and abusive.
Unless he was unlawfully in possession of his firearms (which is very possible) a restraining order or a domestic abuse charge would have removed all of his guns from him under the law.
Our legal system works wonderfully, it just doesn't do anything if you don't use it.
But let's just ban guns because that will somehow fix a dysfunctional system.
It's like a couple having a baby to save their marriage.
By definition, mass shooters are insane. This would basically be saying "make your crime a little more heinous, and we'll go easy on you".
ReplyDeleteIf you are too crazy to be held accountable for murder, you are too crazy to be free.
First degree murder or pre-meditated murder means that it was not a crime of passion (or in the moment). The scant evidence we have indicates that it was 1st degree murder.
ReplyDelete-He chose the place: his former employer, from 2 years ago. If he had have done this on the day he was fired, then you might have a case for mentally ill.
-He concealed his weapon until he was where he wanted: If he was crazy, then why not just start shooting up wherever he was? Because he was out for revenge.
Your snide comment about what does pulling the handgun from under his shirt indicate is petty. Let's assume that he had a CCW. What part of this crime was he able to do that he wouldn't have been able to (or even hindered somewhat) without one?
Temporary insanity is a defense, not a crime. He can try to use temporary insanity to defend against the murder charge but there is no law to charge someone with temporary insanity killing.
ReplyDeleteGuav, I said nothing about inanimate objects casting spells. What I said was mentally ill people who do crazy things should not be judged like others. In my hierarchy, the hired assasin is at the top. These guys who act out of passion or mental instability are less culbaple.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sevesteen though, they should definitely not be out on the streets.
Yeah, and in your world there are hired assasins with silencers behind every lamppost. Because that is what they show in the movies and TV.
ReplyDeleteThese guys who act out of passion or mental instability are less culbaple.
ReplyDeleteThe accounts I've seen seem to say that this was premeditated, not an "act of passion."
Right you are, Mike W. I wouldn't call it an act of passion when a disgruntled employee nurses the grudge for two years and then blows. I would call that mental illness, though. What do you call it, soundness of mind in which he clearly knew right from wrong and decided to shoot a bunch of ex-colleagues?
ReplyDeleteCan a sane person commit an act of murder?
ReplyDelete