Long Beach, California – A mistrial was declared in the trial of a former Long Beach Unified School District safety officer charged with murder for the shooting of an 18-year-old woman after jurors announced they were deadlocked. Eddie Gonzalez, the accused officer, was on trial for the shooting of Manuela “Mona” Rodriguez near Millikan High School in Long Beach on September 27, 2021.
The jury’s foreperson informed Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Richard M. Goul that the panel was split 7-5, with the majority leaning towards second-degree murder conviction for Gonzalez. The minority favored voluntary manslaughter and acquittal on the more serious charge. Due to the deadlock, the judge dismissed the jury without further deliberations.
Rodriguez, seated in the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by her boyfriend, was fatally shot in a parking lot near Spring Street and Palo Verde Avenue in Long Beach. Video footage of the shooting was widely circulated in local media, leading to public outcry.
Prosecutors argued during the trial that Gonzalez acted recklessly, trying to handle a situation beyond his scope, resulting in tragic consequences. They contended that Gonzalez’s actions were not justified and that he escalated the situation by firing at the fleeing vehicle.
Conversely, Gonzalez’s defense attorney maintained that his client acted in self-defense out of fear for his safety, believing he was at risk of being hit by the vehicle. The defense highlighted the brief timeframe in which the events unfolded, emphasizing the need to consider the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
The trial showcased multiple videos capturing the moments before the shooting, with witnesses providing contrasting perspectives on the unfolding events. Gonzalez, who did not testify in his own defense, was ultimately released on bond while awaiting further legal proceedings.
In the wake of Rodriguez’s tragic death, her family secured a significant settlement in their lawsuit against the school district, seeking accountability for the failed oversight that led to the shooting. The case continues to elicit emotional responses from both sides, underscoring the complexities and nuances of the legal proceedings surrounding the incident.