Tyler man sentenced to prison for 2021 murder

TYLER – A 22-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday for his role in the June 2021 shooting death of a Tyler teen. Jason Edward Rhodes, of Tyler, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery. According to our news partner KETK, the shooting happened outside of a residence on Omega Drive and left Jesse McNeely, 17,  dead from a gunshot wound. In December of 2022, Rhodes was initially arrested for capital murder. He lead Tyler Police on a brief chase after being named as a suspect. Rhodes was indited for armed robbery on Sept. 9, 2021. His two co-defendants were both indicted for capital murder. Andres Urrutia, 21 of Tyler, was sentenced to life in prison shortly after state’s attorneys filed their intentions to seek the death penalty, and Lorenzo Martinez, 23 of Tyler, has an upcoming hearing date set in October.