Felon Who Killed Indio Woman Without Provocation Admits Murder Charge

INDIO (CNS) - A probationer who gunned down an Indio woman at her
shared residence without giving a specific reason pleaded guilty today to
second-degree murder and other offenses.
  

Johnny Jose Rodriguez, 32, of Indio, admitted the felony charge, as
well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, under a
pretrial agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. No
charges were dismissed under the plea bargain.
  

Superior Court Judge Kristi Hester scheduled a sentencing hearing for
Jan. 20 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Rodriguez is expected to receive
more than 30 years in state prison.
  

The defendant, who is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention
Center, fatally shot 32-year-old Angela Struzas inside her home at 38555 Rancho
Los Coyotes Drive, near Avenue 38.
  

Indio Police Department Detective Kelly Hawkins testified during a
2020 preliminary hearing that detectives were taken aback when they entered the
victim's room to collect evidence.
  

``She was just drenched in blood, and in a pool of blood,'' the
detective said.
  

Detective Matthew Gutting said Rodriguez immediately admitted
perpetrating the shooting while being questioned by investigators, saying ``I'm
a good aim.''
  

Gutting said the defendant described firing a bullet into Struzas' arm
with a gun that he claimed at the time was handed to him minutes earlier by
the woman's housemate, who allegedly told Rodriguez to ``get her.'' Another
shot killed the victim.
  

The defendant would not specify what led to the attack. The housemate,
whose name was not released, was arrested alongside Rodriguez, but
detectives ultimately determined the party had no part in the deadly shooting.
  

The defendant underwent medical examinations to determine whether he
was mentally competent to stand trial, leading to a brief round of psychiatric
treatment before criminal proceedings could resume.
  

He has a prior conviction for possession of controlled substances for sale.
  

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