Santa Fe sheriff’s deputy fatally shot by partner after alcohol-fueled fight: reports

Deputy Jeremy Martin was shot and killed while he and another deputy were staying at a Las Cruces hotel during the time of the incident. They were coming back to New Mexico after extraditing a prisoner to Arizona.

BY CORINNE LESTCH
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2014, 9:57 AM
Updated: Tuesday, October 28, 2014, 5:04 PM

SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Santa Fe County sheriff's deputy Jeremy Martin (pictured), 29, has died after he was shot by fellow deputy Tai Chan at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces.


A Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot by a fellow deputy while staying at a Las Cruces hotel, authorities said.


The two deputies started arguing and the fight escalated, according to Las Cruces police. They were staying at Hotel Encanto de las Cruces, which bills itself as a sophisticated Spanish Colonial landmark hotel, after extraditing a prisoner to Safford, Ariz.


The accused shooter has been identified as 27-year-old Tai Chan, according to the Albuquerque Journal. He has not been charged yet.


Jeremy Martin, 29, is the deputy who was killed, according to Sheriff Robert Garcia.


Martin, who has three young children, was pronounced dead at MountainView Regional Medical Center. Garcia notified Martin's wife early Tuesday, and called both deputies "hardworking."

Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputy Tai Chen has been identified as the accused killer of fellow deputy Jeremy Martin.

"In my 34-year career, I would never think and hope I would receive that kind of phone call," said Garcia during a press conference, pausing several times to fight back tears. "I never thought it would be two from within my own agency."


His widow, Sarah Martin, told the Journal that she was still absorbing the horrific news.


"Overall (Jeremy Martin) was a great dad, a great husband, a family guy, well grounded," said the grieving widow, who was married to Martin for 12 years. Their children are ages 4, 9 and 11. "I am still kind of processing."


She added that he was a selfless person.


Police: Argument between deputies ends in shooting

KOAT - Albuquerque, NM



"He was a self-sacrificing kind of a person and put everyone else first," she said. "He had a big heart and gave everyone the benefit of the doubt."

The pair of deputies stopped at Dublin's Street Pub Monday night before they got into an argument at the hotel, according to officials.

Chan fired several rounds just after midnight as Martin tried to escape to an elevator.


The shooter is "believed to have fired several rounds from a semi-automatic weapon at Martin," according to an LCPD statement.

"Evidence indicates (the shooter) fired several rounds as Martin attempted to flee the seventh floor and enter an elevator."


Officers found Martin bleeding profusely with several gunshot wounds in his back and arms. Cops located Chan in a stairwell near the roof of the hotel and collared him without incident.

SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Santa Fe County Police Sheriff Robert A. Garcia

Garcia told the Daily News that his tight-knit, 120-person staff was in shock.


"We would never expect anything like this to happen," he said, adding that the two deputies did not normally work together. "It's a major shock."


Garcia said the dead deputy worked in the sheriff's office for two-and-a-half years while the shooter has served three years in the position. He said they made an 8-hour drive from Arizona when they stopped at the hotel.


He wouldn't confirm the name of the shooter or give more details, citing an investigation.

Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy Jeremy Martin, 29, has died after he was shot by fellow deputy Tai Chan at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces.

"We're waiting on the Las Cruces (police department) investigation, and then I'll go from there," he said. "I'm just trying to get through this day. I'm still dealing with the shock of the information. It's just hard to understand something like this."

Garcia was notified of the incident around 1:30 a.m. The offending deputy is in custody.


Hotel staff could not be reached by phone.


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.1989826