‘A very dark night.’ Richland killer showed no remorse after shooting
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Richland man sentenced for murdering Michael Perkins at Uptown Shopping Center.
- Judge cited jail calls and interviews as evidence of Rodriguez’s lack of remorse.
- Family described Perkins as selfless, intervening to protect others during attack.
A Tri-Cities man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for murdering a Richland father who tried to stop a mugging at the Uptown Shopping Center.
Benton County Superior Court Judge David Petersen said Isiah Nathanial Rodriguez, 29, of Richland, showed no remorse for the November 2024 killing of Michael Perkins.
He was sentenced Tuesday in front of a courtroom packed with members of the Perkins family.
Rodriguez sentenced
Petersen said he thought he had an idea of how he would sentence Rodriguez, but after hearing interviews and a phone call Rodriguez made from the Multnomah County Jail, he had to reconsider.
Rodriguez had fled the scene after the shooting and was arrested days later in the Portland, Ore. area.
“This really was a complete indifference for human life,” he said. “You have thoughts of what you want to do coming in, but I heard the jail interview and they were changed.”
In the interview, Rodriguez told investigators he went to the Uptown Shopping Center with a battle hammer and pistol, prepared for a confrontation with an acquaintance who he believed stole his phone.
Perkins, 36, was nearby and saw the attack unfolding in the alley, and stepped in. He took the hammer away from Rodriguez and after a brief argument, threw it on the roof of the businesses. Then Rodriguez shot him.
In a phone call from the jail, Rodriguez is heard laughing about the shooting and making fun of Perkins, minimizing the severity of the crime because Perkins was homeless and had mental health issues.
“Whoever did this did the world a favor,” Rodriguez said while laughing on the phone call.
When defense attorney Karla Kane told the court Rodriguez was just trying to sound tough, deputy prosecutor Tyler Grandgeorge revealed he had allegedly told another friend that he “liked it” and wanted to “do it again.”
Kane said Rodriguez denied ever saying that.
Petersen sentenced Rodriguez to 23 years in prison for second degree murder with a firearms enhancement on the sentence. It was a year longer than prosecutors had asked for, but 18 months short of the maximum allowable range.
His defense attorney had asked for 16 years, citing a traumatic brain injury that impacts Rodriguez’s decision making and temperment, and his willingness to plead guilty in order to accept responsibility.
Emotional testimony
The Perkins family described Michael as a man who always tried to do the right thing and was deeply protective of others.
They said Perkins loved his two children so much that he gave up custody of them because he knew his mental health issues were preventing him from giving them the life they deserved. He was still in contact with them and was loved by their adoptive parents who said they worked to keep Perkins in the kids’ lives.
Despite being homeless, Perkins wasn’t alone. He was always in contact with family, and his brother tried to convince him to at least sleep in his yard.
Steaven Perkins said he still wakes up some mornings thinking his brother will be out back with a cup of coffee, waiting on the rest of the family to get up.
His sister, Brittany Perkins, said Michael taught her to be strong and resilient, and said he always did the right thing.
“My brother was in the right place at the right time. He saved two others form being robbed or possibly killed,” she said. “He did the right thing, even when he didnt have to.”
Kayla Lewis spoke on behalf of his children, saying that his death has shattered their lives and future.
“He died protecting a total stranger,” she said. “That’s the kind of man he was. He was brave, he was kind and he was loved.”
Grandgeorge said the testimony they heard at the sentencing hearing showed what kind of man Michael Perkins was, and in turn what kind of man Rodriguez is.
“I think this entire murder happened because (Rodriguez) was trying to look tougher, it is not an excuse,” Grandgeorge said.
“All men are saints when the spotlight is upon them. It’s what they do in the dark that reveals their character when no one is watching, when they think no one will care,” he continued. “That was a very dark night ... when no one was watching and two men showed their character.”
Rodriguez made a brief apology to the Perkins family before he was sentenced.
“I understand that my actions have been detrimental to the Perkins family, as well as my own. I understand that is not OK,” Rodriguez said. “I have lost sight of the caring, gentle young man that I was … I hope the Perkins family will accept my sincerest apologies.”
Petersen said the interviews played in court showed Rodriguez displayed a pattern of complete indifference to human life.
“I don’t care if he was homeless or had some addictions issues, he’s still family and from everything we’ve seen today (he) was doing everything he could,” Petersen said. “Mr. Rodriguez didn’t just take a life, he took many.”
