Waitress murder may be random killing

CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) - Carlsbad police now suspect Thursday's murder of a waitress at a Carlsbad Denny's may have been a random act by a customer who just snapped and shot her for no reason.

Police Lt. Jennifer Moyers said a 22-year-old man was the only customer at the Denny's at 3 a.m. when he shot and killed Rachel Rodriguez, 34.

But what led up to the shooting?

"It just seemed like business as usual," Moyers said. "So really at this point, investigators are working to try and determine what the motive was."

Police said the suspect had ordered a meal, hung around for a while, sat and ate it and didn't cause any problems.

Denny's employees told police they didn't suspect anything was wrong and that there was no argument between the customer and the waitress.

Employees said it wasn't until the customer went to the counter to pay that he pulled out a gun.

Rodriguez was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The customer then shot himself but lived. He's now in critical condition.

No one else was hurt or threatened.

At this point in the investigation the shooting appears to be random.

"It really does because we haven't been able to establish why it happened, and we haven't been able to establish a connection between the two of them," Moyers said.

Police said Rodriguez had moved to Carlsbad from Pecos in northern New Mexico just a month ago to be with family.

The suspect, whom police won't name, moved to Carlsbad from Tucson, Ariz., a week ago.

Investigators said they've found no criminal history on the suspect anywhere.

Both the suspect and victim's families are working with police and told investigators the two didn't know each other.

"Based on the information that they've given us, it's just that, that it's kind of a shock, to everybody," said Moyers.

Police said Rodriguez had three small children. The male suspect is currently in a Lubbock, Texas, hospital.