LA MARQUE, Texas – A Galveston County jury has sentenced a man to 25 years in prison for shooting and killing a teenager during a fight in Texas City.
It all started on May 31, 2023, when a group of teenagers gathered in a field, expecting a fight between two girls. What began as a girl fight quickly escalated into a deadly shooting.
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Police later identified the victim as 19-year-old Johnathan Rodriguez, who was shot in the chest and leg. He died shortly after the shooting.
After reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses, authorities arrested 43-year-old Joshua Calvert Blanks Jr. of La Marque. Blanks was indicted for murder, and his trial began on Jan. 6.
During the trial, prosecutors painted a clear picture of what happened that day. They played videos showing Blanks walking into the group, grabbing Rodriguez by his jacket, and firing a gun. Witnesses, including Rodriguez’s girlfriend, testified that Rodriguez had his hands up and empty when Blanks pulled the trigger.
The medical examiner, Dr. Erin Barnhart, described the chest wound as “immediately lethal,” saying Rodriguez could only have lived for a few minutes. While Rodriguez did have a gun in his waistband, it was never drawn or pointed at anyone, prosecutors said.
Blanks claimed he acted in self-defense when he took the stand. But under tough questioning from Willis, he admitted Rodriguez’s hands were raised at the time of the shooting. The jury also learned that Blanks, a convicted felon, wasn’t even supposed to have a gun due to his criminal record.
In her closing argument, Willis told jurors, “The only person in real danger was Johnathan Rodriguez. The only one entitled to self-defense was Johnathan Rodriguez. And the only person guilty of murder is Joshua Blanks.”
The jury deliberated for two days before returning a guilty verdict.
During the sentencing phase, prosecutors highlighted Blanks’ history of criminal behavior, including seven prior felony convictions and incidents of violence against deputies while awaiting trial.
Rinehart called attention to Blanks’ extensive record, while Willis reminded the jury of the finality of Rodriguez’s death: “Blanks’ actions stopped Johnathan Rodriguez from ever having the chance to make a decision again.”
The jury settled on a 25-year sentence, the minimum allowed due to Blanks’ prior convictions. He will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence—12½ years.