On a cold January night in Philadelphia, a young man's life was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence that continues to haunt his family. Alexander 'Tito' Martinez, a 23-year-old male, was shot and killed on January 9, 2012, during an attempted robbery. Remembered for his creative spirit and love for art, hair, and makeup, Alexander was walking with his 16-year-old nephew to get Chinese food in the Nicetown neighborhood when they were confronted by two men.
In a final act of love and protection, Alexander stepped between his nephew and one of the armed assailants and was fatally shot.
The night of the incident, Philadelphia Police responded to a call at Temple University Hospital where Alexander was being treated for a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite the efforts of the medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries. The suspects fled the scene after the shooting, and though police recovered surveillance video from the area, the quality was not clear enough to identify the individuals responsible.
In the years that have followed, the case of Alexander Martinez's murder has remained unsolved, with no arrests made and no suspects publicly identified. The Philadelphia Police Department continues to list the case as open, and a reward has been offered for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The profound loss has had a lasting impact on Alexander's family, particularly his sister, who was inspired by the tragedy to become a vocal advocate for victims of violence in the city.
