In the city of Philadelphia, the life of 13-year-old Alezauna Cheyanne Libby Carter came to a tragic end. The young female had been reported missing in November 2020, having last been seen near her family's home in Southwest Philadelphia on October 12. For months, her whereabouts remained a mystery, a period of agonizing uncertainty for her loved ones.
The search concluded in the most heartbreaking way on April 18, 2021, when police responded to a call about a shooting in the Frankford neighborhood.
Inside a first-floor apartment on the 1500 block of Overington Street, officers discovered Alezauna's body. She had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the mouth. Initially, authorities had difficulty identifying the young victim. It wasn't until early May that she was identified and her family was notified of the devastating news. Her family, who affectionately called her Libby, was left grappling with the senseless loss of a child who they said loved to dance.
The investigation into Alezauna's death continued for several months. In July 2021, a significant breakthrough occurred when Philadelphia police arrested a suspect. Luis Rodriguez, a 25-year-old man from the Frankford area, was taken into custody on July 23. He was subsequently charged with murder and other related offenses in connection with Alezauna's death. At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez was already awaiting trial for separate aggravated assault and drug charges.
Court documents revealed some of the evidence that led to Rodriguez's arrest. A witness reportedly told investigators that they heard Rodriguez confess to the crime, allegedly saying, 'I shot her, I shot her in the neck,' and that he had bragged about the killing. Furthermore, ballistic evidence from a shootout at a playground that occurred on the same day as Alezauna's murder allegedly matched the weapon used to kill her. Surveillance video also reportedly showed Rodriguez entering and leaving the apartment where her body was found. While an arrest has been made, the case is still pending trial. The motive behind the shooting has not been publicly released by authorities.
