On September 30, 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Santa Fe, New Mexico, resulting in the death of 19-year-old Abraham Dominic Romo. The event took place near the intersection of Siringo Road and Camino Consuelo, where Santa Fe Police Department officers responded to a noise complaint around 11 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a black Cadillac SUV that had veered off the road into an arroyo.
Inside the vehicle, they found two deceased individuals: Abraham Dominic Romo and 23-year-old Ebony Faith Martinez. Both victims appeared to have sustained at least one gunshot wound each.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Manuel Joseph Martinez, was apprehended at the scene. Officers observed Martinez, covered in blood, exiting the vehicle and attempting to flee. During the chase, he dropped a firearm before being arrested. Martinez repeatedly told officers that 'they tried to kill me' and advised them to check the vehicle, suspecting two people could be dead.
Martinez now faces two counts of first-degree murder, one count of tampering with evidence, and two counts of resisting and obstructing an officer. He was booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center on October 1, 2024.
During a detention and preliminary hearing on October 16, 2024, Martinez's defense attorney argued for voluntary manslaughter charges, claiming self-defense. The defense pointed to wound marks on Martinez's body, indicating a possible struggle, and mentioned that the child lock was engaged on the driver's seat back passenger door.
It's worth noting that Martinez has a criminal history, including open charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and trafficking a controlled substance. He had been arrested on September 22, 2024, for these charges but was released on personal recognizance with conditions of release. Additionally, Martinez had previous arrests for domestic abuse in December 2023 and for allegedly strangling a woman in March 2024, though both cases were dismissed without prejudice.
The incident has sparked discussions about public safety and gun violence in Santa Fe. Local officials, including District 4 City Councilor Jamie Cassutt, have expressed concerns about the recent increase in violent incidents and are planning community meetings to address these issues.
