SAN ANTONIO – KSAT 12 News has confirmed through sources at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center that the 44-year-old woman gunned down in her driveway Sunday morning was set to testify in an upcoming murder trial.
Sources said that Julie Rodriguez's ex-boyfriend, Martin Balboa, is scheduled to go on trial this week following his 2011 arrest in the 2003 murder of Joseph Delgado. Police said Delgado was playing basketball outside a South Side community center when a masked man approached and opened fire.
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Rodriguez was shot to death in front of her two sons and her daughter as they were leaving for church from their home in the 6400 block of Brownleaf.
Police investigators said a man got out of a grey vehicle and began shooting. After she collapsed in the driveway, police said the shooter kept firing as he stood over Rodriguez.
Police said witnesses then saw the suspect get into the passenger side of a waiting vehicle, and got away.
However, police investigators said on Monday afternoon they don't know if there is a connection between Rodriguez's death and the fact that she would testify in the trial.
Rodriguez's longtime neighbors said the hair stylist and single mother of three never mentioned Balboa or that she was to testify in his trial.
Although she considered herself to be Rodriguez's good friend, Kortnie Bennett said she didn't seem to be in fear for her life.
"No, she was real laid back, real cool to hang with," Bennett said.
A spokesman for the hair salon where Rodriguez leased space as an independent business owner, also said she never mentioned Balboa or her pending testimony in his trial.
Jury selection in Balboa's trial begins Tuesday.
For a list of recent stories Jessie Degollado has done, click here.