A Texas woman, Jennifer Jesselle Perez-Rodriguez, 28, has been charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer with a machete, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
According to the recently unsealed criminal complaint, the incident occurred on April 17th on Anderson Road in Houston. Federal agents, operating in unmarked vehicles, were allegedly approached by Perez-Rodriguez, who walked into the roadway wielding a machete.
The complaint states that she began swinging the weapon and advanced towards two of the agents’ vehicles.
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Authorities allege that a siren was activated in one of the vehicles as Perez-Rodriguez reportedly ran towards them with the machete. As she continued to advance, an FBI agent opened his vehicle door and verbally commanded Perez-Rodriguez to drop the weapon.
According to the allegations, Perez-Rodriguez did not comply with the agent’s commands.
The FBI agent then discharged his duty weapon at Perez-Rodriguez until she no longer posed a threat. Perez-Rodriguez was struck by the gunfire and subsequently transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
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Perez-Rodriguez of Houston was taken into custody.
If convicted of assaulting a federal agent, Perez-Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000.
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