On Saturday, January 21, 2023, the life of 18-year-old Julian Martinez, a Hispanic male, was tragically cut short in Lincoln, Nebraska, following a dispute that began over an unleashed dog. The teenager, who was born in Scottsbluff and later moved to Lincoln, was known for his kind nature and his passion for working with the elderly at the Knolls Retirement Center, a job that inspired him to consider a career in nursing.
He was a beloved son, brother, and friend, who enjoyed playing video games and spending time with his family.
The fatal encounter unfolded near 18th Street and Euclid Avenue when an argument broke out between Martinez's neighbor, 30-year-old Armon Rejai, and a group of people, including Martinez, regarding an unleashed dog. After the initial argument, Rejai went back to his home. He later told police he heard his neighbors shouting obscenities at him, which prompted him to come back outside and use pepper spray on the group before again retreating indoors.
Following the pepper spray incident, Martinez went to Rejai's front door and began banging on it forcefully. When the banging ceased, Rejai opened his door and fired a single shot, striking Martinez in the upper torso. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Julian Martinez succumbed to his injuries.
The shooter, Armon Rejai, was the one who initially called 911 to report the incident. He was subsequently arrested and faced charges of first-degree murder. Rejai later entered a plea of no contest to a lesser charge of second-degree murder. During his sentencing, he apologized to Martinez's family and claimed he believed he was acting in self-defense. However, the judge rejected this argument, stating, "Everyone does have a right to self-defense, and you have the constitutional right to own and carry firearms. But this was not a case of self-defense." On October 1, 2024, Armon Rejai was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Julian Martinez.
