Bronx Man Charged With 2018 Murder During Which He Shot The Victim’s Five-Year-Old Son

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, Police Commissioner for the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced today that JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Suave,” was charged with the October 23, 2018 murder of Jaquan Millien in connection with a drug trafficking crime.  As alleged, RODRIGUEZ shot and killed Millien in the Webster Houses apartments in the Bronx, New York.  During the shooting, RODRIGUEZ shot Millien’s five-year-old son, who was with his father at the time.  Thankfully, his son survived.  RODRIGUEZ was arrested today and will be presented this afternoon in Manhattan federal court.  The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Rodriguez allegedly murdered Jaquan Millien with his five-year-old son at his side.  His callous actions not only took Millien’s life, but also put Millien’s son’s life in jeopardy too when he shot him during the murder.  We hope that today’s charges bring some measure of comfort to the family of Jaquan Millien and make clear that this Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of anyone who takes another person’s life.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said:  “Allegedly murdering a man, and nearly murdering his five-year-old child, didn't solve the rivalry between Rodriguez and his victim. Now multiple lives are shattered, and Rodriguez faces life in federal prison for his alleged criminal actions. This type of senseless violence puts everyone in the community at risk, and it will not be tolerated.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said:  “Joshua Rodriguez, by his alleged actions, was willing to shoot and kill a rival drug trafficker and to do so without regard for the victim’s innocent five-year-old son, who was wounded by the gunfire. This kind of criminality, and the violence it breeds, remains a focus of the NYPD. We commend our detectives, our F.B.I. partners, and the federal prosecutors of the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for working together to achieve a measure of justice with today’s arrest.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

On or about October 23, 2018, JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Suave,” shot and killed Jaquan Millien in the vicinity of the Webster Houses in the Bronx, New York.  During the shooting, RODRIGUEZ shot Millien’s five-year-old son.  The murder was in connection with a marijuana trafficking rivalry between RODRIGUEZ and Millien. 

RODRIGUEZ, 30, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison; one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and using a firearm to commit murder during a drug-trafficking crime, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.    

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.