In the early morning hours of March 30, 2025, a tragic event unfolded outside the Capri Hookah Lounge in Seattle's Rainier Beach neighborhood, ending the life of 29-year-old Hispanic male, Julius Rodriguez. Working as an armed security guard at the establishment, Rodriguez was a father of two young sons, a former military member, and was aspiring to a career in law enforcement after recently completing K-9 training.
His life was cut short in an act of violence that also claimed the life of another man, Ozzie Whitfield.
The incident began when a man, later identified as 25-year-old Leontai D. Berry, allegedly approached Whitfield and shot him in the head. As the suspect attempted to flee the scene, surveillance footage showed him hitting his head on a low-hanging beam and falling to the ground before getting up and running towards a waiting black sedan. In a heroic act, Rodriguez pursued the gunman in an attempt to apprehend him. It was during this pursuit that Rodriguez was fatally shot at least five times. He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Following the shooting, the Seattle Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to a suspect. Leontai D. Berry was arrested later the same day after he sought treatment at Valley Medical Center for a gunshot wound to his leg and an injury to his forehead, consistent with what was seen on the surveillance video. Berry was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder with firearm enhancements and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. At the time of the incident, he was on federal probation for a prior gun possession case. A judge set his bail at $5 million, and he later pleaded not guilty. The tragic death of Julius Rodriguez has been described by his family as the loss of a kind-hearted man who was dedicated to helping others and providing for his family.
