Man accused of shooting cheerleader in Elgin goes on trial

ELGIN, Texas – A man accused of shooting a cheerleader in an HEB parking lot in Elgin last year had his first court hearing Wednesday morning. He is accused of two felonies.

“A lot of people asked me, 'Did you think you were going to die or something like that?' But for some reason I just knew that wasn't the case,” gun survivor Payton Washington told FOX 7 Crime Watch reporter Meredith Aldis in November 2023.

It's been a year and a half since Payton Washington was shot. She survived.

In April 2023, she and three of her teammates were on their way home after a cheer practice outside of town. They stopped at an HEB in Elgin to drop one of the cheerleaders off at her car. However, it turned out it wasn't her car.

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“We thought it was the exact same car,” Washington told FOX 7 in November 2023.

It was Pedro Tello-Rodriguez's car. He shot the girls several times.

“I literally twisted my whole body and that's why it hit me in the back. It was just crazy, there were shots through the steering wheel, through her evil stare in the mirror. It's just really, really, really crazy,” Washington told FOX 7 in November 2023.

Washington was shot three times. Court documents said Tello-Rodriguez drove off.

After investigators reviewed surveillance footage, Tello-Rodriguez was identified. He was found in his home wearing the same clothing he had worn during the shooting and was arrested.

Tello-Rodriguez's attorney said he voluntarily surrendered and gave up his weapon.

As recently as August 2024, Tello-Rodriguez was charged with deadly conduct while discharging a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

On Wednesday, November 6, Tello-Rodriguez had his first hearing in Bastrop County Court.

“Pedro Tello-Rodriguez continues to cooperate fully with the Bastrop County District Attorney’s Office, as he has since the beginning. Ms. Washington sustained her injuries after entering Pedro's vehicle uninvited and unannounced. Ms. Washington was texting and didn't notice her “Pedro was understandably startled by Ms. Washington's sudden intrusion and believed he had previously been robbed at gunpoint,” said Charlie Baird, Tello-Rodriguez's defense attorney.

“My main goal was to focus on my future, so he'll deal with what he did,” Washington told FOX 7 in November 2023.

“We are optimistic that this matter can be resolved very soon to everyone’s satisfaction. “Pedro continues to wish Ms. Washington a full recovery,” Baird said.

Tello-Rodriguez's next hearing is scheduled for February 12.