In the late morning of a Saturday in Atlantic City, a dispute between neighbors escalated into a fatal encounter. On September 12, 2020, police received a 911 call about a person with a gunshot wound and responded to the 1500 block of Belfield Avenue. There, they found 32-year-old Marketa Thorpe, a female who had sustained a gunshot wound to her torso. Thorpe was rushed to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division, where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was the gunshot wound, and her death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation quickly led to the apprehension of 69-year-old Maximo Santiago. Santiago was arrested shortly after the shooting as he was attempting to flee in his vehicle. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses. Santiago and Thorpe had a history, including a prior relationship that had ended.
The situation on the day of the shooting reportedly began after Thorpe, who was described as homeless, had slept on Santiago's porch the previous night.
According to statements made by Santiago to investigators, an argument ensued during which Thorpe allegedly tried to attack him with a plastic broom. Santiago claimed he then went inside, loaded a rifle, came back out, and shot Thorpe once. He told detectives that he did not mean to kill her but had hoped to put her in a wheelchair to stop her from bothering him. Prosecutors noted that Santiago admitted he could have stayed inside and called the police. In July 2021, a grand jury indicted Santiago on charges of murder and weapons offenses.
