On the evening of December 18, 2015, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, 19-year-old Oscar Martin-Refugio was working at Grand Pizza on Main Street, nearing the end of his shift. A native of Mexico, he had been in the United States for about six months, diligently working to save money to send back to his mother with the dream of one day building her a house.
The pizzeria was preparing to close for the night, with a back door left ajar to let in some fresh air.
Shortly after 10:00 p.m., two individuals entered the pizzeria through the open back door in an attempted robbery. As the owner fled through the front of the establishment to seek help, one of the assailants opened fire. In the chaos, both Oscar and his 41-year-old co-worker, Humberto Barrera, were struck by the gunfire. Oscar was shot in the chest and tragically succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His co-worker was critically wounded but ultimately survived the attack. The suspects fled without taking any money.
In the aftermath, the Bridgeport Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the surrounding area in an effort to identify the individuals responsible for the violent and senseless act. Despite their efforts and the passage of time, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Oscar Martin-Refugio. The case remains open, leaving a community and a family still waiting for justice for the young man who had traveled so far in pursuit of a better life for his loved ones. A small memorial was created outside the pizza shop, and a collection was started to help send his body back to his mother in Mexico.
