An African-American man, Steven Montrell Martin, was a 37-year-old father of seven with a reputation for looking out for others. On the evening of June 23, 2014, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this instinct to help placed him in the middle of a volatile situation that ultimately cost him his life. After finishing his workday, Martin went to a friend's home to play cards, a casual gathering that would soon turn tragic.
An argument erupted between two groups of people at the party, and the dispute quickly escalated. True to his nature as a peacemaker, Martin stepped in to try and de-escalate the conflict. While he was attempting to intervene and calm the situation, violence broke out, and a single gunshot fatally wounded him. He was the only person struck by the gunfire.
In the wake of the shooting, the Minneapolis Police Department launched a homicide investigation. However, the case was met with a frustrating silence. Despite the presence of numerous witnesses to the altercation and the shooting, no one came forward with information that could lead to the identification and arrest of a suspect. A year after his death, investigators and his family were still pleading with the public for assistance, emphasizing that the key to solving the case lay with the people who were there that night. A memorial was placed at the scene of his death, a somber reminder of a life lost while trying to make peace. The case of Steven Montrell Martin's death remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made in connection with his murder.
