East New Mexico News

From February 10, 2023 post.

UPDATE: Feb. 11

Justino Martinez was arrested Saturday night (Feb. 11) about 8 p.m. after a brief foot chase with Roswell Police Department officers in west Roswell. Martinez was arrested on a warrant charging him with three counts of aggravated assault (deadly weapon), two counts of child abuse, shooting at an occupied dwelling, conspiracy to commit shooting at an occupied dwelling, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

During the investigation into the whereabouts of Martinez, detectives obtained information Martinez was staying at a residence in the 1600 block of West Alameda Street. RPD personnel saw Martinez leave the residence and walk east on West Alameda Street and then south on South Wyoming Avenue. When police activated emergency lights on their vehicles and called his name through a vehicle PA system, Martinez fled on foot and ran through two backyards before being tased and taken into custody. Martinez was additionally charged with resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.

The investigation into Martinez’s activities related to other criminal incidents he may have potentially been involved in remains ongoing.

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ORIGINAL POST: Feb. 9

The public’s assistance is being sought in providing information that could help police locate a 19-year-old Roswell male who is charged in connection with a drive-by shooting in the early-morning hours this past Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Justino Martinez is accused of firing multiple shots at a house in the 700 block of East Fifth Street around 3:20 a.m. Inside the house at the time were three adults and three children, ages 8, 6 and 2. Numerous bullet holes were found in the front of the house and through the front window. No one was injured in the shooting.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Justino Martinez is asked to call the Roswell Police Department at 575-624-6770.

The investigation by RPD’s Criminal Investigations Division determined a car in which Martinez was the passenger drove up to and stopped in front of the house, where Martinez got out and the car drove a short distance and parked nearby. Investigators believe Martinez then fired multiple shots, perhaps as many as 40, at the house, using a gun investigators believe is the same gun they found Wednesday night, Feb. 8, during a search at another location. The investigation determined after shooting at the house, Martinez ran to and got back into the nearby car, which then drove away.

Martinez is described as approximately 5’7” tall, about 150 pounds and has brown or black hair and brown eyes. He is charged in this case with three counts of aggravated assault (deadly weapon), two counts of child abuse, shooting at an occupied dwelling, conspiracy to commit shooting at an occupied dwelling, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The person believed to have been driving the car in which Martinez arrived at and left the scene of the shooting Tuesday was identified through the investigation as a 16-year-old Roswell male teenager. He was located Wednesday night, Feb. 8, detained for questioning and arrested early Thursday morning, Feb. 9. The teen is charged with three counts of aggravated assault (deadly weapon), two counts of child abuse, shooting at an occupied dwelling, and conspiracy to commit shooting at an occupied dwelling. He remained in custody at a juvenile detention facility Thursday.

Martinez and the teen are believed to possibly be involved in other drive-by shootings that remain under investigation, including one that occurred Wednesday night just before 8 p.m. and targeted a house in the 700 block of Orchard Avenue, just a few blocks from Tuesday’s shooting on East Fifth Street.

Original source can be found here.