Death by Cop  2021-2025

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Daniel Martinez

Gender : Male

Age : 43

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 01/23/2024

Location : 1400 block of Union Street

City : Eureka

County : Humboldt

State : California

Agency : Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Johnathan Waxler and Colton Ross

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by SWAT during domestic crisis

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On January 22, 2024, at approximately 5:46 a.m., the Eureka Police Department responded to a report of a male juvenile with a significant neck laceration. The juvenile alleged that his uncle, Daniel Martinez, 43, had assaulted him at a residence in the 1400 block of Union Street in Eureka, California. The victim was transported to a local medical facility for treatment of severe but non-life-threatening injuries.
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Officers learned that Martinez had barricaded himself in a second-story bedroom with additional occupants, including an adult female and three male juveniles aged 4 to 12. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) were dispatched to the scene. Negotiations continued throughout the day, resulting in the safe release of all hostages by approximately 1:00 p.m.
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Despite prolonged negotiations, Martinez remained non-compliant and refused to surrender. At approximately 4:58 p.m., an officer-involved shooting occurred when contact was made with Martinez. He was struck by gunfire, received immediate medical attention, and was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
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The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Deputies Johnathan Waxler and Colton Ross of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Both deputies were placed on paid administrative leave, per agency protocol. The Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team, led by the Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, is conducting an investigation into the incident.
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NUMBER OF CASUALTIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 1 fatality, 2 injured.
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Last Update: 12/01/2024

SOURCE LINKS :

https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2024/jan/23/epd-names-suspect-killed-yesterdays-standoff-polic/
https://www.northcoastjournal.com/NewsBlog/archives/2024/01/23/epd-identifies-suspect-killed-in-standoff
https://kymkemp.com/2024/01/23/epd-says-two-juveniles-injured-in-yesterdays-hostage-situation-that-ended-in-fatal-shooting-of-suspect/
https://www.eurekaca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=147
https://www.wildcoastcompass.com/knife-assaults-hostages-lead-to-swat-standoff-and-one-dead-after-officer-involved-shooting/
https://krcrtv.com/north-coast-news/eureka-local-news/new-details-released-in-hostage-situation-that-ended-with-deadly-officer-involved-shooting
https://www.northcoastjournal.com/NewsBlog/archives/2024/02/02/epd-identifies-deputies-who-fatally-shot-suspect
https://kymkemp.com/2024/03/29/hcso-releases-video-on-officer-involved-fatal-shooting-in-january/
https://krcrtv.com/news/local/hcso-releases-body-camera-footage-of-officer-involved-shooting-on-january-22nd-2024
https://humboldtgov.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5503
https://ground.news/article/sheriffs-office-releases-video-of-eureka-fatal-police-shooting