In the fall of 2021, a young man named Lawrence Witzke moved to South Bend, Indiana, seeking a new chapter in his life. At 24 years old, Lawrence, a male, was known by loved ones for his goofy, fun, and sometimes crazy personality. He had a love for all and was considered a light to many. Originally from Amsterdam, New York, he had lived in Florida before settling in Indiana with his partner.
He enjoyed singing, spending time with friends, and living life to its fullest.
On the evening of November 11, 2022, that life was tragically cut short on the porch of his home in the 1300 block of Vassar Avenue. The events of that night began with a dispute over a lost wallet. A 23-year-old Mishawaka man, Mikail Martinez, had come to the residence to retrieve his wallet from one of Lawrence's roommates. Believing his credit cards were missing from the wallet, Martinez became confrontational and an argument escalated into a physical fight. Hearing the commotion, Lawrence stepped outside onto the porch and, while calling 911 for help, told Martinez to get off his property.
Instead of leaving, Martinez pulled out a handgun. As his companion, Kyle Johnson, urged him to go, Martinez fired four shots in rapid succession at Lawrence, killing him. In the ensuing panic, Martinez and Johnson fled the scene in a car. The police later found Lawrence’s phone and his broken glasses on the porch, but no weapon. The claim of self-defense Martinez would later make, stating he thought Lawrence was pulling a gun, was contradicted by the evidence that he was holding a cell phone.
Following the shooting, an investigation led to the swift identification and arrest of the individuals involved. Mikail Martinez was charged with murder, battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, resisting law enforcement, and a firearm enhancement. His associate, Kyle Johnson, faced a charge of felony assistance of a criminal for his role in the events.
In August 2023, a jury found Mikail Martinez guilty of the murder of Lawrence Witzke. During the trial, Martinez maintained that he acted in self-defense, a claim the jury ultimately rejected. On October 4, 2023, a judge sentenced him to 60 years in prison. The sentence consisted of 50 years for murder, with additional concurrent sentences for the other charges, and a 10-year firearm enhancement to be served consecutively.
