On a spring evening in Gary, Indiana, a senseless act of violence irrevocably shattered a family. On May 7, 2022, 25-year-old Nehemiah Martin Sr., an African American male, was traveling as a passenger in a minivan being driven by his fiancée, Selena Saenz. Their three young children were also in the vehicle as they drove east on 17th Avenue around 6 p.m.
In a sudden and horrific turn of events, a Chevrolet Malibu pulled alongside their van, and a young man inside opened fire.
The gunfire struck Nehemiah Martin in the back of the head, and he tragically succumbed to his injuries at the scene. In the midst of the chaos, his 17-month-old son was also wounded, sustaining a gunshot to his arm, though he thankfully survived. The alleged assailant, identified as 27-year-old Terry Horton, was later apprehended by law enforcement.
Following an investigation, Terry Horton was charged with murder, attempted murder, and two firearm enhancements in connection with the fatal shooting of Nehemiah Martin. During the ensuing trial, Martin's fiancée, Selena Saenz, provided a harrowing testimony, recounting the moments leading up to the shooting. She told the court that Martin had instructed her to pull the vehicle over just before the shots rang out. Her testimony was partially corroborated by video surveillance footage that captured the moment Martin was shot and fell from the minivan. The prosecution in the case also pointed to Horton's previous criminal history, suggesting a pattern of escalating violent behavior.
