On December 30, 2021, 18-year-old Zequael Zeke Isaus Diaz-Martinez, a male from Lubbock, Texas, was found dead in a vehicle at the Park Meadow Villa Apartments in East Lubbock. Diaz-Martinez had sustained a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. when Lubbock police responded to a shots-fired call at the apartment complex located at 2502 Weber Drive.
The investigation revealed that Diaz-Martinez and a 15-year-old male had met for the illegal sale of firearms. An argument ensued during the meeting, leading to Diaz-Martinez being shot.
Following the incident, the 15-year-old male was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a stolen firearm. He was transported and booked into the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center. The investigation continued, and on the afternoon of December 31, 2021, investigators located a vehicle related to additional suspects in the case. Officers attempted to make a traffic stop, but the driver of the vehicle refused to stop and began to flee. The officers successfully initiated a forcible stop, leading to the arrest of two more suspects, a 16-year-old male and another 15-year-old male, both of whom were charged with murder.
Additionally, the driver of the vehicle, 18-year-old Roderick Johnson, was arrested on a charge of evading in a motor vehicle. The investigation into the death of Zequael Diaz-Martinez is ongoing, with the Lubbock police homicide detectives continuing to gather evidence and information related to the case. The tragic death of Diaz-Martinez highlights the dangers associated with illegal firearm transactions and the devastating impact of gun violence on the community.
