AMARILLO, TX – An Oklahoma man, Mario Alberto Rodriquez, 33, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to the 2022 murder of his 23-year-old girlfriend, Marisela Mendoza, outside a Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Amarillo, Texas. The case also involved Rodriquez fleeing the scene with his two young daughters, ages 5 and 8, in the car.
Fatal Shooting Outside Texas Roadhouse
The incident occurred on April 30, 2022, when Rodriquez and Mendoza, both residents of Oklahoma, traveled separately to the Texas Roadhouse parking lot. According to reports, the couple engaged in a heated argument, which escalated into violence when Rodriquez pulled a gun and fired multiple shots at Mendoza.
First responders found Mendoza with life-threatening gunshot wounds. She was transported to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries, leaving the community and her family in shock.
Fleeing With Children and Amber Alert
After the shooting, Rodriquez fled the scene with his two young daughters in the vehicle. An Amber Alert was initially issued due to concerns for the children’s safety. Fortunately, authorities later located Rodriquez in Hereford, Texas, and confirmed that the children were safe and placed in the custody of family members.
Legal Proceedings and Guilty Plea
Following his arrest in Texas, Rodriquez was briefly transferred to Texas County, Oklahoma, in February for charges of child neglect and domestic abuse, which were subsequently dismissed. He was then transferred back to Texas in May.
A grand jury in Potter County indicted Rodriquez for murder in July 2022. He was initially scheduled to go on trial in early 2026, but entered a guilty plea on Monday, accepting a 60-year prison sentence in exchange.
Community and Family Reactions
The tragic case left friends and family of Mendoza devastated. Authorities described the sequence of events as both violent and shocking, noting that it was fortunate the children were unharmed during Rodriquez’s flight…