On a Sunday afternoon in Petersburg, Virginia, on October 25, 2020, a shooting shattered the day's calm at a Marathon gas station on the 1900 block of Boydton Plank Road. Inside a car, police discovered 30-year-old Martaz D. Thompson, a Black male, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. The incident, which occurred around 12:35 p.m., marked another tragic chapter in a spate of gun violence that had been plaguing the city.
Martaz, a father of three, was a Petersburg native who had attended
local public schools and was employed at a Wendy's restaurant. He was born on July 6, 1990, and was known by loved ones for his joyful spirit. His untimely death left a significant void in the lives of his family and friends.
In the hours that followed the discovery of Martaz's body, the Petersburg Police Department moved swiftly. Less than 12 hours after the shooting, they had a suspect in custody. Isaiah Rashad Friend, 25 years old at the time, was arrested and faced a slew of charges in connection with the homicide. These charges included murder, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his arrest, Friend was held without bond.
