On June 18, 2023, 18-year-old Gabriel Angel Martinez was fatally shot at Tim Foster Park in Far East El Paso, Texas. Responding to reports of gunfire around 5:23 p.m., police discovered Martinez inside a 2010 silver Acura on a basketball court; he had sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigations revealed that Martinez had arranged to meet two individuals at the park, one of whom shot him before both fled.
Surveillance footage showed two male suspects walking toward the crime scene shortly before the shooting and then fleeing in opposite directions afterward. The suspects were later identified as 17-year-olds Anthony Matthew Zubia and Z’Mari Leishaun Theus. A third individual, 24-year-old Alexis Faith Mora, was also implicated.
On June 19, 2023, the El Paso Police Department's Gang Unit conducted a traffic stop near Montana Avenue and Oasis Drive, during which Zubia, Theus, and Mora attempted to flee but were apprehended with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Border Patrol Air Support, and a K-9 unit from the Rogelio Sanchez State Jail. Zubia and Theus were charged with murder, each held on a $1 million bond. Mora faced a $750,000 bond; however, the murder charge against her was later dropped, and she was released from jail.
Court documents indicated that the incident stemmed from a drug deal arranged via Instagram, during which Zubia and Theus planned to rob Martinez. THC cartridges were found in Martinez's vehicle and at Mora's residence, linking the suspects to the crime scene. Witnesses described erratic behavior from Zubia, who allegedly began "tweaking and started shooting it everywhere at the park."
In April 2024, Zubia pleaded guilty to murder and tampering charges and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Theus's trial was scheduled to begin on September 20, 2024.
This case highlights the tragic consequences of youth involvement in drug-related activities and underscores the importance of community vigilance and law enforcement in addressing such issues.
