AMHERST — Police have issued an arrest warrant for the person believed to have shot and killed 31-year-old Jose M. Rodriguez and injured another man late Friday night, the Northwestern district attorney’s office announced Thursday.
Local and state authorities are actively seeking the suspect, who is not believed to be in the Amherst area, spokeswoman Mary Carey said in the statement. The district attorney’s office declined to release the name of the suspect because police are still interviewing witnesses. Prosecutors also have obtained impoundment orders for any materials filed in connection with the case.
The suspect’s identity will be released when he is apprehended, according to the district attorney’s office.
“Although the issuance of an arrest warrant is a significant and positive development, this remains an active and ongoing investigation,” District Attorney David E. Sullivan said in the statement.
Rodriguez, a father of three young children, was fatally shot at the Southpoint Townhouses & Apartments, 266 East Hadley Road. He had grown up in Amherst from the age of 8 after moving from Puerto Rico in 1994.
The 28-year-old man also shot Friday night underwent surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and is recovering. He is expected to be released from the hospital in the near future, Carey said. His identity has not been released.
The Amherst Police Department and Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit assigned to the Northwestern district attorney’s office obtained the arrest warrant Tuesday afternoon at Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown.
Zuly Rodriguez, 36, broke down in tears when she heard police had issued an arrest warrant for the person suspected of killing her brother. She lives in Puerto Rico and has been staying in Agawam with a family friend since Monday.
“This is the greatest news,” she said, crying. “I’m happy but I’m desperate. I’m still desperate. I’m not going back to Puerto Rico until they get him.”
Until then, she and those close to her brother are eagerly awaiting more information from police as the investigation continues.
“I’m gonna wait for that call,” she said.
According to Rodriguez, her brother’s body will be cremated. She expects the family will receive his ashes Tuesday. At that point, they will make memorial arrangements for the end of next week.
Stephanie Murray can be reached at stephaniemur@umass.edu.