Terrance Q. Rodgers, aged 39, tragically lost his life in the early hours of June 25, 2016, in Riverside, California. The incident occurred at a USA Gas station located at 3950 Tyler Avenue. Rodgers was an innocent bystander when he was fatally shot multiple times in the torso and head. The shooting was part of a violent altercation involving Victor Gastelum and his cousin, Jacob Gamboa, who were attempting to retrieve a stolen Bluetooth speaker from Jerome Miller, a man who had previously assaulted Gastelum. The confrontation escalated when Miller approached Gastelum and Gamboa in a hostile manner, leading them to open fire. Rodgers, who was merely standing on the sidewalk, was caught in the crossfire and died at the scene.
The investigation into Rodgers' death led to the arrest and conviction of Victor Gastelum. In August 2017, a Riverside jury found Gastelum guilty of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. The jury also found him guilty of sentence-enhancing allegations related to the shooting. Gastelum was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in September 2017. During the trial, it was revealed that Gastelum and Gamboa had recorded a video shortly after the shooting, in which they bragged about their actions using expletives and racial slurs. This video was a crucial piece of evidence in securing Gastelum's conviction.
Jacob Gamboa, Gastelum's cousin, was also charged in connection with Rodgers' death. Gamboa faced multiple charges, including two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder for unrelated shootings that occurred the same weekend in Riverside. Additionally, Gamboa was charged with the murder of another man in an unrelated incident the day after Rodgers was killed. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office sought the death penalty against Gamboa, and he was arrested in Mexico four months after the shooting. The trial dates for Gamboa and another accomplice, Andrew Steve Molina, who was also charged with murder in connection with the June 2016 shooting, had not been set at the time of the reports.
The case highlighted the senseless nature of the violence that led to Rodgers' death. Deputy District Attorney Elan Zekster emphasized during the trial that Rodgers was simply minding his own business when he was killed. The prosecution's case was bolstered by the video evidence and the testimony of witnesses who described the chaotic scene at the gas station. Despite the defense's argument that the shooting was not premeditated and that Gastelum and Gamboa only intended to retrieve their stolen property, the jury ultimately held them accountable for the tragic loss of life.
