In the quiet evening of October 28, 2014, in Hammond, Indiana, 45-year-old Martin Hurtado Sr. was in his own backyard, focused on the familiar task of working on a car. It was a routine moment that was tragically shattered at approximately 9:20 p.m. when a single gunshot struck him in the shoulder. Hurtado was rushed to St. Margaret's Hospital, but his life could not be saved, and he was pronounced dead later that evening.
The hardworking man, remembered by loved ones as a caring and intelligent individual who never took a day off, became another victim of senseless gun violence.
The investigation into the death of Martin Hurtado Sr., a man with no gang affiliations, soon uncovered a case of mistaken identity with devastating consequences. Authorities identified the shooter as 19-year-old Anton James, a member of the Latin Kings street gang. Prosecutors stated that James' intended target was actually Hurtado's son, Martin Hurtado Jr., who was believed to be a member of a rival gang. In a tragic error, James shot the father, believing he was the son, in an act intended to elevate his own status within the Latin Kings.
The path to justice was not without its own drama. On the day of one of Anton James' court appearances, his mother, Dalia Guerrero, was arrested for allegedly threatening a witness in the case. Prosecutors said she approached the witness, letting them know she was aware of their identity and where they lived, and ominously warned them to 'watch their back.' Despite this attempt at intimidation, the case against Anton James moved forward.
Ultimately, Anton James was charged with murder in aid of racketeering and murder resulting from the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. In November 2018, at the age of 22, James pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering activity for his role in the Latin Kings. During his sentencing, he was found to have committed the murder of Martin Hurtado Sr. For his crimes, which included the terrorizing of Northwest Indiana streets and his involvement in the death of an innocent man, Anton James was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
