‘Cold-blooded’ murderer sentenced for Richland parking lot slaying of father of seven
A 29-year-old former gang member was sentenced to three decades in prison for what the judge called a cold-blooded killing in a Richland hotel parking lot.
“We don’t put animals down like that,” Judge David Petersen said during Jonathan M. Rodriguez’s sentencing Friday. “It was cold-blooded, but I appreciate that you accept responsibility for it.”
Rodriguez, who also used to use the nickname “Grumpy,” pleaded guilty in July to first-degree murder and illegal gun possession for the September 2020 killing outside the Riverfront Hotel.
He shot Joshua Gibson, 39, twice because he believed Gibson, a father of seven, inappropriately touched Rodriguez’s new girlfriend.
“I know what happened was wrong,” Rodriguez said in court. “At the time, I wasn’t in the state of mind that I am in now.”
He said he understands the importance of family because he now has a daughter, and that he recently left his gang.
He told Judge Petersen he didn’t intend to hurt anyone when he went to the hotel, but “one thing led to another.”
Rodriguez faced 29 years to 37 years in a Washington state prison for the murder and for using a gun, which added five years.
Deputy Prosecutor Julie Long and defense attorney Nicholas Blount asked for 30 years.
Blount initially asked for the minimum, which Petersen said made him consider a longer sentence. But the agreement between the prosecutor and defense attorney, made the judge decide on less time than he was considering.
In the end, he ordered 32 1/2 years.
Rodriguez already has been in the Benton County jail for nearly two years, in part, because of delays during the COVID pandemic.
Richland hotel parking lot
On Sept. 26, 2020, Rodriguez received a text message from his girlfriend, saying she had woken up to find Gibson in her apartment, according to court documents.
Rodriguez had been dating the woman for about a week.
He then got Michael G. Cook, 45, to drive him to the Riverfront Hotel, formerly the Shilo Inn, where Gibson was visiting some hotel guests who needed help working on a car.
Soon after, a gun-toting and mask-wearing Rodriguez showed up and ordered Gibson into a Chevrolet Tahoe, court documents said.
Rodriguez got into the Tahoe, followed by Gibson, but then Gibson hopped back out. A witness heard a loud slap or smack come from inside the SUV and said Gibson told the passengers that he would not get in if he was going to be hit, documents said.
A surveillance video showed Gibson standing near the open SUV door as two shots were fired.
Cook then drove him away but was arrested 45 minutes later during an unrelated traffic stop by West Richland police.
Rodriguez was not with him and a $1 million warrant was issued. He was arrested in early October.
Cook was later sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison in August 2021 after pleading guilty to first-degree rendering criminal assistance.
Father of seven
Gibson was a father of seven and was described by family and friends as a giving person.
“This was such a brazen and senseless act,” Long said. “I can only imagine the fear in Mr. Gibson’s mind when the defendant shows up armed with a firearm and basically walks him down to that ramp to execute him in the parking lot.”
She said Gibson was begging for Rodriguez to stop as he attacked him before the shooting, and he could explain. After the shooting, Rodriguez left him in the parking lot to die.
“By no means are we trying to say that Mr. Gibson was an angel,” Long said. “He had his difficulties, but the defendant foreclosed any opportunities for Mr. Gibson to turn his life around.”
Gibson’s father, Ray, read a letter written by his mother asking for the longest sentence possible for her son’s killer.
“He’s not one that can be rehabilitated,” Ray Gibson said. “Animals are put down for killing for no reason.”
1st violent crime
Blount pointed out that Rodriguez took responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty, when he could have continued fighting the charges.
Rodriguez will spend the majority of his life in prison. While he committed crimes in the past, this was the first violent crime, Blount said.
“We’re asking the court to look at that, to take that into consideration and see that this is the first time that Mr. Rodriguez has been charged with such a grievous and extreme charge and he has taken responsibility,” Blount said.
Rodriguez was open with his attorney about how his drug use and gang affiliation had shaped his actions. Blount noted the Rodriguez only has partial memory of the shooting that day.
