In a significant breakthrough more than three years after the tragic murder of 20-year-old Sierra Rhodd, one of the perpetrators, Andre Colson, has pled guilty to first-degree murder.
The development comes as a small glimmer of relief for Sierra’s grieving family, who have been enduring the painful aftermath of the horrific incident.
Colson, 26, was apprehended in September 2020 and charged with the murder of Sierra Rhodd, who lost her life on Sept. 13, 2020, in her Harris County home.
The assailants, including Colson, allegedly drove to her residence on Timber Crest Drive and unleashed a barrage of gunfire, creating a chaotic and terrifying scene.
Sierra Rhodd, who battled Cerebral Palsy, was in her room during the fatal shooting. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that over 50 rounds were fired into the Cypress home.
Her mother, Krystal Rhodd, vividly described the horrifying experience to KPRC 2.
“My daughter was a good person, never did anything didn’t even know these people,” she told KPRC 2′s Deven Clarke.
The other three individuals charged in connection with Sierra’s murder are Xavier Fletcher, Austin McCalla, and Jason Cisneros. The investigation revealed a distressing motive behind the attack – they were allegedly targeting Sierra’s 15-year-old brother.
“Andre Colson pleaded guilty because all the guns were registered to him, he had already admitted he was there,” Krystal added.
In a 2023 interview, she recalled the constant sound of gunfire and the destruction that followed.
“It sounded like a war zone. Just pow, pow, Just constant,” Krystal Rhodd recalled. “Every window is breaking, drywall was busting. Where I was sitting there was a bullet like two inches away from my head.”
When the onslaught of gunfire ended, she crawled to Sierra’s bedroom, which was located in the front of the house.
“I knew she was already gone,” Krystal Rhodd said.
In a statement following Colson’s guilty plea, Sierra Rhodd’s mother expressed a mix of emotions:
“On September 13, 2020, a beautiful soul was stolen from our world, and nothing can ever take that back or replace her. Today, hearing that Andre Colson has accepted accountability and plead guilty it serves as a very small piece of relief. There is one down and three more to go to feel any real justice.”
Colson’s sentencing is scheduled for March, marking a crucial step towards justice for Sierra Rhodd and her grieving family. The quest for closure continues as the legal proceedings unfold, with the hope that the remaining perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions.