In the early hours of a Tuesday morning in Hampton, Virginia, a violent encounter tragically cut short the life of Monica Rodriguez, a 24-year-old female from Newport News. On June 10, 2025, just after midnight, Rodriguez and a male companion were walking towards their room at the Quality Inn on West Mercury Boulevard when they were confronted by a man.
Following a brief exchange of words, the man opened fire, striking both Rodriguez and her companion before fleeing the scene on foot.
Emergency services arrived to find both victims with life-threatening gunshot wounds. They were quickly transported to a local hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Monica Rodriguez succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. The condition of the male victim who was also shot has not been publicly updated.
The Hampton Police Division's Major Crimes Unit immediately launched an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts led to the identification of a suspect, and on June 24, 2025, authorities announced the arrest of 25-year-old Eric Fleet of Newport News. Fleet was taken into custody and is facing a series of charges in connection with the fatal shooting.
Eric Fleet has been charged with one count of murder for the death of Monica Rodriguez. In addition to the murder charge, he faces one count of aggravated malicious wounding, possession of a firearm by a felon, reckless handling of a firearm, and willful discharge of a firearm in public. Furthermore, he was charged with two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing.
