Texas woman hit with federal charges after threatening FBI agents with machete

A Houston woman, Jennifer Jesselle Perez-Rodriguez, is facing federal charges after being shot by FBI agents for allegedly threatening them with a machete. The incident occurred on April 17, when Perez-Rodriguez walked into the roadway on Anderson Road and began swinging the machete towards two unmarked FBI vehicles.

According to a criminal complaint, the agents activated a siren on one of the cars as Perez-Rodriguez started running towards them. Despite being instructed to drop the machete, she refused to comply. The situation escalated when one agent opened a car door and began shooting at Perez-Rodriguez until she was no longer a threat. She was then taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

Perez-Rodriguez has been charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer and could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. Witnesses claim that she had been attacked by at least four people before grabbing the machete in search of her attackers.

“I saw when the woman went inside the store, and she supposedly had a bag with a machete inside,” a witness told Fox 26. “She came back outside, but they were no longer there. So she went out to the road with the machete.”

This incident highlights the dangers that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis and the importance of following their instructions to prevent escalation. It also serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of threatening or assaulting law enforcement officials.