A New Mexico sheriffs deputy shot and killed his partner as he fled a hotel room the two shared following a night of drinking after transporting a prisoner to Arizona, cops said Tuesday.
Sheriffs Deputy Tai Chan is accused of shooting dead fellow Deputy Jeremy Martin inside a hotel room in Las Cruces. The two had just finished their job in bringing a prisoner from Santa Fe County, where the two are based, to Safford, Arizona. Martin was just 29 years old.
Heres what you need to know:
1. Martin Was Shot in the Back as He Tried to Escape to a Hotel Elevator
Hotel Encanto Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces, New Mexico. (Google Street View)
According to KOAT, the two were staying at the Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on the night of October 27. The officers had just extradited a prisoner from Santa Fe County to Safford, Arizona. KOB reports that before turning in for the night, the two deputies stopped at the Dublin Street Pub in Las Cruces. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the two men began arguing in the bar.
Gunshots were heard very early on the morning of October 28 with police being called. Soon after their arrival, responding officers found Deputy Jeremy Martin bleeding profusely in a hotel stairwell. He had been shot in the back. The injured deputy was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died. Tai Chan, 27, was also found inside the hotel. He was taken in for questioning but has not been charged.
2. Jeremy Martin Had 3 Kids
Jeremy Martin Family Facebook
Jeremy Martin pictured with his family in June 2014. (Facebook)
According to his Facebook page, Jeremy Martin is married with three kids. His wife, Sarah, posted on her Facebook, the day before Jeremy Martin was killed, that the family had been involved in a Christmas charity event
Martin was clearly proud of his job in the sheriffs department. He regularly posted MEMEs that celebrated sheriffs across the U.S.
3. They Hadnt Worked Together Much
Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia told the media in a press conference that the two deputies hadnt worked together much. In an emotional briefing, Garcia said:
Garcia added that his department is relatively small and is made up of 120 employees.
4. Martin & Chan Were Friends on Facebook
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Despite Sheriff Garcia saying that the two deputies hadnt worked together much, they are friends on Facebook. On Chans page, he writes that he studied at New Mexico State University, it doesnt say if he graduated. Hes also a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
According to the Santa Fe Sheriffs website, Chan works in the departments warrants division. Jeremy Martin doesnt appear to be listed on the same page.
5. Tai Chan Received a Commendation on October 1 for Doing His Job in a Professional, Courteous & Admirable Manner
The Santa Fe Hometown News reported on October 1, 2014, that Chan had been commended by Sheriff Robert Garcia for performing his job in a professional, courteous and admirable manner. The commendation was specifically related to arrests that Chan participated in that were related to a string of robberies in the area-of Eldorado, New Mexico
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