A celebration turned to tragedy on June 15, 2024, ending the life of Isaac Rodriguez-Duarte, a 15-year-old Hispanic male from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Isaac was out walking with friends, including his best friend Diego Herrera-Mejia, after a party for Diego's 16th birthday. As the group of teenagers walked near the 900 block of West Manitoba Street on the city's south side, the festive evening took a devastating turn.
Two individuals on an electric scooter approached the group of friends.
A brief and heated argument broke out, and one of the individuals on the scooter produced a handgun and opened fire. The sudden violence left Isaac dead at the scene. Diego Herrera-Mejia was rushed to Froedtert Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A third victim, Diego's 14-year-old cousin, Emily Rocha, was shot in the thigh but survived with a non-life-threatening wound. The community was left reeling, and a memorial of balloons, photos, and candles soon grew at the site of the shooting.
Milwaukee police launched an investigation that quickly led them to a primary suspect. On June 24, prosecutors charged 17-year-old Moses Xavier Martinez with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, all with the use of a dangerous weapon. An arrest warrant was issued, and a search for Martinez began.
In August 2024, authorities located and arrested Moses Martinez, taking him into custody to face the charges against him. The case proceeded to trial in Milwaukee County. On August 14, a jury found Martinez, who had turned 18, guilty of the double homicide of Isaac Rodriguez-Duarte and Diego Herrera-Mejia. He was also convicted of first-degree recklessly endangering safety for the shooting of Emily Rocha, as well as an additional count for operating a vehicle to flee an officer.
On November 14, 2024, Moses Martinez was sentenced for his crimes. He received two mandatory life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. For the other felony convictions, he was sentenced to a total of 25 years and five months in prison, to be served concurrently with his life sentences. Martinez was also ordered to pay $20,184 in restitution. The case was officially closed as of his sentencing in November 2024.
