On the evening of November 5, 2018, in Racine, Wisconsin, Marcellus "Nino" Martinez, a 32-year-old Black / African American male, was fatally shot while sitting in a vehicle. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. near the intersection of LaSalle Street and High Street. When police responded to reports of gunfire, they discovered Martinez with several gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
An investigation into the shooting immediately began.
A witness who was with Martinez at the time told investigators that an individual approached the driver's side window of their vehicle and fired multiple shots inside. The witness managed to get out of the car as the shooting started. Surveillance footage from the area showed the victim's car pulling up, followed by a small SUV. Two males exited the SUV, and one of them walked up the driveway where the shooting occurred.
The investigation led police to identify Gerald Smith, then 37, as a suspect. When officers attempted to pull over an SUV Smith was driving, he fled, leading them on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of 130 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Smith was seen throwing items from the vehicle. The chase ended when the SUV crashed. Inside the vehicle, investigators found a neoprene face mask, gloves, and illegal drugs.
Following his arrest, Gerald Smith admitted to shooting Marcellus Martinez. He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon. In March 2019, Smith pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case was bound over for trial. For the family of Marcellus Martinez, this was the second son they had lost to gun violence. Martinez was a father of four, with a fifth child on the way at the time of his death.
