A Fort Worth father was shot and killed after his family said he tried to stop an argument at his next door neighbor's home.
Police responded to the shooting call around 10 p.m. Saturday night in the 2500 block of Northwest 25th Street in Fort Worth.
36-year-old Germain Rodriguez was shot and killed by Oscar de la Cruz, Jr., 30, according to police.
Police said Cruz ran from the neighborhood and was caught several hours later. He is now charged with murder.
Rodriguez's sister-in-law, Jannet Enriquez, said Rodriguez was mowing his backyard Saturday evening when he heard arguing next door.
Moments after he went over to try and intervene, Rodriguez was shot several times in the torso.
"He was just trying to be a good person and go next door to stop the fight," Enriquez said. "He just tried to make peace with everybody. Like I said, he tried to stop the fight. He was just a friendly person all around."
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Rodriguez leaves behind a wife and three children. His family said they were beginning to plan his eldest daugther's quinceanera, but instead, they are planning a funeral.
The accused shooter, Cruz, was Rodriguez's neighbor's son -- he did not live at the home, but was visiting. His father, Oscar de la Cruz, said his son was recently released from prison after serving time for drugs and theft.
The elder Cruz said he shed tears for his lost friend and neighbor, whom he shared everything with.
"He was a good friend, better than my son. Much better," Cruz said. "Good people go and bad people stay. Why? I want to know why."
It is unclear what the initial argument was concerning.
