by Tabatha Deans, Associate Editor7 days ago | 1378 views | 23 | 26 | |
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At approximately 10:30 p.m. Halloween night, Vernal City Police received a call from neighbors near 150 Dale Avenue, behind Smith’s, stating that a man was looking in the basement windows of the home. Allegedly 24-year-old Vernal resident Jesus Martinez was looking in the basement window of an ex-girlfriend, who has a protective order against him and has had no contact with him for two years.
According to a close family member, the ex-girlfriend, her fiance and three children were in the basement of the home. Shortly after the ex-girlfriend took her two children upstairs to get them ready for bed, while the step-son and fiance remained in the basement, shots were fired into the basement living room, and Martinez entered the home through the window he shot out.
The woman heard the shots, the step-son ran upstairs, and the oldest, a six year old, hid them under the bed, while the woman went to the kitchen, grabbed two knives, and ran outside to law enforcement for help. Law enforcement officers were waiting for backup, so the woman ran to look in the window to check on her fiance. She realized the gun was empty, then ran back inside and grabbed the children, taking them outside to safety.
“There were many heroes there that night,” says the source. “The family was in the room right before he started shooting. It’s a miracle that it didn’t end worse.”
When Martinez entered the basement, the fiance ran into the room after hearing the glass shatter.
“I’m going to kill you,” Martinez said to the fiance, putting the gun to his head, and pulling the trigger. Luckily, he had spent all his bullets and the gun only clicked. The fiance tackled him and fought with him until police entered the home.
According to the family member, the woman had not had any dealings with Martinez for two years, and has a standing protective order against him. Martinez had allegedly violated the restraining order on numerous occasions, and his ex-girlfriend said she knew something horrific would happen eventually.
Officer Dustin Gray was the first to arrive on scene, and, according to acting Police Chief Dylan Rooks, was told that neighbors had spotted the man hiding behind a Dodge Durango.
As Gray walked around the Durango, Martinez, fired four shots at him, hitting him once in the leg. Gray sought cover and waited for backup, while Martinez turned around and began shooting the basement windows of the home. Martinez then gained entrance inside the home, and engaged in a violent altercation with the male inhabitant. Officers did not return fire.
When officers entered the home, they restrained both men until they could sort out who the perpetrator was. Both men were taken to Ashley Regional Medical Center where they were treated and released. Martinez was arrested and taken to the Uintah County Jail.
Neighbors who heard the altercation said they heard at least six to eight gunshots, four of which were found in the basement of the house; 13 shell casings from a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun were found in the yard. Three shots fired at the officer left large holes in a vehicle parked across the street from the altercation, and one hit the home across the street.
The neighborhood was taped off until daylight, when officers could see better to perform an investigation of the crime scene.
“This really could have turned out much worse,” said Rooks. “The officer’s going to be okay though, luckily the bullet went straight through without hitting any bones or arteries.”
Uintah County prosecutors are waiting for each officer involved to prepare a written statement before charging Martinez. He may be charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a restricted person.
The number of counts per charge and the seriousness of the charge may be enhanced because law enforcement officers were the target of his aggression and children were in the home he fired upon.
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