On a summer day in South Salt Lake, Utah, a grim series of events unfolded that ended in the death of 44-year-old Abe Martinez, a Hispanic male. On June 17, 2018, Martinez entered the home of his 89-year-old grandmother, Rose Martinez, and her 71-year-old husband. Martinez, who had recently been paroled from the federal prison system and had walked away from a halfway house just days earlier, took his elderly grandparents hostage in their residence near 450 E.
Stanley Ave.
Family members grew concerned when they were unable to reach the couple and an unknown man answered their phone. When police arrived at the home, they attempted to negotiate with Martinez. However, he was uncooperative and made it clear that he intended to harm his grandparents. As the situation escalated, a shot was fired from inside the house. Fearing for the lives of the hostages, a SWAT team was called to the scene.
As SWAT members assembled, Martinez became more agitated and informed family members over the phone that he was going to kill the couple. An immediate action team of three SWAT officers approached the front of the house and engaged Martinez through a window. During this confrontation, shots were fired by the officers, and Martinez was fatally wounded. Inside the home, officers discovered that Rose Martinez had been killed by her grandson. Her husband was found critically injured but survived.
The investigation into the incident confirmed that Abe Martinez was the sole person responsible for the death of his grandmother and the assault on his grandfather. Consequently, there were no other suspects and no arrests were made in connection with the homicide. The actions of the police officers who shot Martinez were later reviewed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and were found to be legally justified.
