Overview

• Closing arguments concluded Tuesday morning in Liberty, Missouri, and the jury began deliberating around 10:30 a.m.
• Prosecutors urged a death sentence, arguing Rocha made deliberate choices, pointed to dashcam timing before the shooting, and framed the decision as personal responsibility.
• The defense asked for life without parole, highlighting a neuropsychologist’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, borderline IQ, and evidence of severe childhood trauma.
• Prosecutors questioned the credibility of the autism diagnosis and emphasized Rocha’s interest in making and selling firearm parts, drug sales, and alleged prior shootings without charges.
• Jurors also saw a detectives’ interview of Rocha’s mother recounting the 2022 shooting and describing an earlier incident when he fired at a car.