Local Family Searching For Answers After Deadly Shooting
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: August 9, 2012
"She said we all need to go to the hospital to tell your mom what happened. I said what happened? She said the cops killed your uncle," says Reuben Fuentes.
Words this family never wanted to hear.
In 2007 the 4-year-old little girl was killed. Leaving this family without a daughter, niece, sister, and friend.
"It was a drive by that had killed her, in a drive by where she was sleeping," says Patrick Martinez.
The shooting of Martinez's niece was hard to deal with. Now just 5 years later, the shooting of his brother, is even harder, especially when he has so many questions left unanswered.
Martinez asks, "Who can we turn to, to get our answers that we want? Was there a warning for him to put his gun down? Was a warning shot? Instead, we're hearing it was five shots that hit him. One of the shots killed him. But where did the warning shot come from?"
Martinez says Wednesday's incident was completely out of his brother's character.
"We don't carry guns and we don't know where he got that from," Martinez continues.
The family strongly believes Miguel Martinez was the innocent person in this shooting and says the number of shots fired by the Abilene Police Department was a bit excessive.
"It don't take them five shots. They don't have to shoot him five times," says Fuentes.
The family wants action to be taken accordingly.
Fuentes continues, "Either that cop needs to be fired or I don't really know. I want some kind of justice because losing my uncle, that ain't the best thing that's happened to me in my life. He was a close one."
Words this family never wanted to hear.
In 2007 the 4-year-old little girl was killed. Leaving this family without a daughter, niece, sister, and friend.
"It was a drive by that had killed her, in a drive by where she was sleeping," says Patrick Martinez.
The shooting of Martinez's niece was hard to deal with. Now just 5 years later, the shooting of his brother, is even harder, especially when he has so many questions left unanswered.
Martinez asks, "Who can we turn to, to get our answers that we want? Was there a warning for him to put his gun down? Was a warning shot? Instead, we're hearing it was five shots that hit him. One of the shots killed him. But where did the warning shot come from?"
Martinez says Wednesday's incident was completely out of his brother's character.
"We don't carry guns and we don't know where he got that from," Martinez continues.
The family strongly believes Miguel Martinez was the innocent person in this shooting and says the number of shots fired by the Abilene Police Department was a bit excessive.
"It don't take them five shots. They don't have to shoot him five times," says Fuentes.
The family wants action to be taken accordingly.
Fuentes continues, "Either that cop needs to be fired or I don't really know. I want some kind of justice because losing my uncle, that ain't the best thing that's happened to me in my life. He was a close one."
Comments
I feel bad for the family and their loss, but you can't blame the police. "A Warning shot" is not safe or smart and is not proper or smart procedure, and you don't fire 1 or 2 shots and then check to see the response. You unload and make sure they are down and not a threat. i was impressed upon reading the story that they hadn't fired MORE than 5 shots.
Dr. J.
August 9, 2012 at 5:10 pm
I agree with Stephen T. You point a gun at a cop, you'll get shot. The officers did nothing wrong. Your brother pointed a gun at them, so he's to blame.
Katheryn C.
August 9, 2012 at 9:12 am
The answer is, point a gun at a cop, get shot. Pretty simple.
Stephen T.
August 9, 2012 at 8:14 am
