A neighborhood menace who fatally shot a man in an argument over dog feces has been jailed for life almost a decade later, but not before berating the widow of his victim in court.
Omar Rodriguez, now 75, gunned down Jose Rey, 52, on his son's lawn in Miami on June 21, 2015, and he died in Kendall Regional Hospital a week later.
The bad neighbor was finally convicted in May of second-degree murder and aggravated assault for threatening Rey's wife Lissette Rey.
'I beg your honor, the harshest sentence imposed to the coward, the murderer,' Lissette told Judge Milton Hirsch at sentencing on Thursday.
Rodriguez erupted in a rage in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, ripping off his mask and unleashing on Lissette.
Rodriguez erupted in a rage in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, ripping off his mask and unleashing on Lissette
Lissette speaks to the press after the sentencing was over, pleased Rodriguez would likely die in prison but wishing he was sentenced to death
'The coward was your husband. That's why I killed him… He cried like a baby,' he yelled.
It took seven corrections officers to drag him out of the courtroom and even when he was outside, streams of obscenity could be heard as Lissette continued.
'I pray he spends the rest of his pitiful existence in prison. He's a narcissistic piece of s**t.'
Unless he lives to be more than 100, Rodriguez will die in prison as he is not eligible for parole until at least 2049.
'At the end of the day, Mr Rodriguez will continue to see his family. They'll be able to visit him and see him. I'll never get to see my husband again,' Rey's widow said.
Jose Rey, 52, was shot dead in Miami on June 21, 2015, and he died in Kendall Regional Hospital a week later
Rey is pictured with his wife Lissette Rey and children before his death
Even before the fatal shooting, Rodriguez was considered a dangerous menace by his neighbors, who all supported Rey and his family after his death.
His clashes with neighbors, from the Miami suburbs of Coral Gables to Kendall, date back to the early 1990s - including at least 140 in the seven years before 2015.
One resident in desperation wrote to then-governor Lawton Chiles, complaining Rodriguez declared war on his neighbors.
He was armed with guns, frequently shouted in the street, and once threatened a lawn mower with a machete, the neighbor warned.
Each time, police said his actions, though deplorable, were not quite criminal and no charges were ever filed.
His only known criminal history before the murder was battery on a police officer in 1994, for which he only got probation.
It took seven corrections officers to drag him out of the courtroom and even when he was outside, streams of obscenity could be heard as Lissette continued
Witnesses told police Rodriguez followed Rey and Lissette in his car as they walked their dog at about 9:30 pm.
The couple were speaking to another neighbor at the time, and Rey decided to take the dog home before continuing the conversation with his neighbor and wife.
On the way home, he crossed Rodriguez's son's lawn and his dog began to defecate on it. Rodriguez parked his car, flashed his lights and revved his engine before confronting Rey.
An argument then ensued, and Rey went on his way. On his way back to speak to his wife and neighbor, he ran into Rodriguez again, who had taken off his shirt in preparation to fight.
After more confrontation, he shot Rey three times as he raised his arms in the air and walked backward.
When Lissette tried to comfort her mortally wounded husband, Rodriguez threatened her, too.
Lissette embraces family and supporters, including neighbors, in the courtroom
Rodriguez demanded the charges be dismissed under Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law, but a judge ruled in 2021 that he wasn't acting in self-defense.
He claimed as part of that defense that Rey came at him with a knife, but neighbors said they saw him plant the knife next to Rey and even tried to jam it into his hand.
Rodriguez was utterly unremorseful during the entire case, and prosecutors played a recording of him declaring: 'If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it the same way.'
His lawyer Bruce Lehr was still making excuses for him even after the sentencing.
'This started with a community ganging up and hating the defendant in this case. And the hatred on all sides boiled over into an unfortunate death,' he told NBC.
'The emotions continue to run deep, and they flared at sentencing… I hope everyone remembers the circumstances.'
Judge Milton Hirsch jailed Rodriguez for life, and made him ineligible for parole until at least 2049
