A San Antonio woman known to locals from a jewelry store’s viral videos is facing felony charges. Deputies say 21-year-old Heavenly Rodriguez, who goes by “Big Kenzo” online, pointed a handgun at another driver before leading them on a pursuit. Authorities say the road rage encounter turned into a full-blown police chase that ended when she crashed into another vehicle, leaving those inside with minor injuries. She and her teenage passenger were both arrested at the scene.
According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, it started around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday in the 7000 block of FM 78. A woman called 911 to report that another driver had pointed a handgun at her during a road rage confrontation. She said a man riding in the same vehicle had also shown a gun. When deputies moved in to stop the car, it took off, sparking a chase into the nearby city of Kirby.
As the pursuit went on, the 18-year-old passenger, Isaiah Ramirez Bryan, jumped out of the moving car and ran before deputies caught him. He was also arrested and charged with evading on foot. Rodriguez kept driving, but she eventually crashed into another occupied vehicle. She was taken to a hospital before being booked into jail shortly afterward. No guns were found in her vehicle, however. Authorities think they may have been thrown out during the chase.
The sheriff’s office is still searching the area and has asked anyone who finds a firearm not to touch it and to call deputies. After Rodriguez’s arrest, the shop responded with a joking post of its own. “Don’t worry Heavenly we got you” to its socials about raising bail money. But the charges she faces are serious: evading arrest in a vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and a warrant alleging she gave false information as a fugitive. The jeweler may not be able to do anything about those.
Road Rage With a Gun Is a Serious Felony
Pointing a firearm at another person, even without firing it, is usually charged as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which is a felony in Texas. Kenzo got an evading charge as well, and the crash left other people injured. So the counts Rodriguez is facing can carry some serious prison time.
It’s not anything to laugh at outside of Kenzo’s reputation, though. Just a second of anger behind the wheel can escalate fast when a weapon is involved, and bystanders often pay the price, as the injured driver in this case did. If another driver threatens you, you should usually avoid them and not chase them back. The safer move is to keep your distance, avoid eye contact, and call 911.
The Internet Knows Her as Big Kenzo
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Part of what’s drawn attention to this case is who Rodriguez is online. She built a local following through SAAD’s Fine Jewelers, where she showed up store’s gold-grill promotions. The jewelry store leaned into it, of course. But it’s probably going to have to very quickly distance itself if the charges do stick.
But we should remember, of course, that those affected in the crash aren’t part of a joke or social media bit. These are real people whose lives could have been seriously affected by Kenzo’s actions.
How do you think the jewelry store should handle its connection to Big Kenzo?