UPDATE: On October 13th, 2005, Daniel Rodriguez was discovered under a bridge at Interstate 8 and Tavern Road in Alpine. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and he died on October 16th, 2005. Rodriguez was 20 years old at the time of his murder. On September 19th, 2013 a coalition of law enforcement agencies including the Sheriff's Homicide Detail - Cold Case Unit, the East County Gang Task Force, the Chula Vista Police Department, the National City Police Department, and the FBI arrested three suspects for the murder of Daniel Rodriguez. Jose Valdez (5/27/1983), John Reyna (4/26/1983) and Rashad Lansing (1/29/1980) were each booked for murder and conspiracy. This case has been turned over to the District Attorney’s Office.

Jose Valdez is also accused of shooting and killing Joseph Medina in Chula Vista on December 11, 2002 in the 1500 block of Industrial Avenue. Jose Valdez is also charged for the shooting and killing of Francisco Chaires in National City on July 6, 2003, in 000 block of West 8th Street. An officer patrolling the area heard gunshots and subsequently found Francisco Chaires in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. The vehicle had collided into a gas pump in the parking lot of a local gas station. Francisco Chaires remained in the hospital for several days and later died as a result of a gunshot wound to his head.

Synopsis: On Thursday, October 13, 2005, at about 9:30 p.m., deputies from the Alpine Sheriff’s Substation received a call to assist the California Highway Patrol with a person that was lying on the south shoulder of eastbound Interstate 8 and Tavern Road in Alpine. The person was later identified as 20-year-old Daniel Rodriguez. He was suffering from a head wound and was treated at the scene by the Alpine Fire Department before being transported, via Mercy Air, to Sharp Memorial Hospital in Kearny Mesa.Initially it was thought that Daniel Rodriguez might have either jumped from the Tavern Road overpass onto the interstate or been the victim of a hit and run. Once at the hospital, medical personnel discovered that Daniel had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Daniel Rodriguez died from his injuries on Sunday, October 16, 2005.

Anyone with information is asked to contact us in one of the following ways:

• Sheriff’s Homicide Detail - 858-285-6330 (during business hours)
• Sheriff’s Communications Center - 858-565-5200 (outside business hours)
• Crime Stoppers - 888-580-8477
• E-mail Homicide Detail
• Online Tip Form (Crime Stoppers)