A 25-year-old Homestead man is headed to jail following a violent highway rage capturing in Key Largo in March 2023.
Monroe County State Lawyer Dennis Ward lately introduced the conviction of Baldemar Martinez, who will spend the subsequent 20 months in a Florida jail.
The incident unfolded in a faculty zone close to MM 104 on U.S. 1 in Key Largo. In accordance with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Workplace, Martinez and the sufferer have been concerned in a visitors dispute round 8 a.m., which then escalated after each events pulled to the facet of the highway. Following a heated verbal change, Martinez returned to his white Dodge Ram pickup truck and fired 4 to 5 rounds from a Beretta .40 caliber pistol into the sufferer’s car tires.
The sufferer, who was not injured, was in a position to establish Martinez’s office based mostly on a decal seen on a van. Deputies responded to the enterprise, situated Martinez and recovered the firearm from his truck. Martinez gave a full confession on scene and was positively recognized by the sufferer throughout a show-up performed by detectives.
Martinez was discovered responsible of aggravated assault with a firearm, discharging a firearm from a car and felony mischief.
On June 6, Circuit Choose James Morgan sentenced Martinez to twenty months within the custody of the Florida Division of Corrections. Along with his jail sentence, Martinez was ordered to pay fines, courtroom prices and his driver’s license was suspended as a part of the penalty.
Ward famous the incident was an “outrageous act of violence dedicated in broad daylight, and worse, in a faculty zone.”
“Baldemar Martinez made a aware option to escalate a visitors dispute right into a life-threatening encounter by discharging a firearm in public,” Ward stated. He fired at one other individual’s car with the intent to intimidate or trigger hurt. In the event you let your mood take the wheel and reply to highway rage with a gun, you received’t simply lose your cool — you’ll lose your freedom. You’ll go to jail. Monroe County has zero tolerance for this type of reckless, armed aggression, and my workplace might be relentless in pursuing justice in circumstances involving such outrageous acts of violence.”
Chief Assistant State Lawyer Joseph Mansfield stated cooperation of the sufferer and the sturdy case developed by legislation enforcement led to a conviction and significant sentence.
“Assistant State Lawyer Trey Evans did an excellent job prosecuting this case. His consideration to element, strategic preparation, and professionalism ensured the general public’s security was prioritized,” Mansfield stated.