Teenager Sentenced to 10 Years for Killing Cousin in Freak Shooting Incident

On August 4, 2025, a Wisconsin teenager was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the tragic accidental shooting of his 10-year-old cousin last year. Javier Rodriguez, now 19 years old, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to second-degree reckless homicide in the May 2024 death of Isdennyeliz Ortiz.

The incident occurred in the early hours of May 31, 2024, inside a Milwaukee home where several generations of the same family lived. Isdennyeliz, affectionately known as "Issey," was asleep in her mother's bed with her baby brother when a bullet struck her in the chest. The round had pierced through the floor and ceiling above, where police say Rodriguez had been recklessly handling a firearm on the upper level.

Rodriguez, who was 18 at the time, fled the scene but was later identified on home surveillance footage and arrested. Court documents revealed he had fired a gun in the home a month prior, leaving a bullet hole in the ceiling. Investigators also recovered a small arsenal of firearms from a closet in the home.

The emotional weight of the sentencing was felt throughout the courtroom. Although prosecutors did not allege Rodriguez intended to kill his cousin, they argued that his reckless behavior proved fatal. Isdennyeliz was described by loved ones as a joyful girl who loved making YouTube videos and playing volleyball. Her devastated mother, Dennise Merced, witnessed the tragic aftermath.

Local activists are calling for better gun safety education to prevent such incidents, emphasizing that these gun-related tragedies are "wholly preventable." As part of the judge's ruling, Rodriguez is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms for the rest of his life.