| For Immediate Release Case #11CF1354 May 23, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
ADULT SON CHARGED WITH MURDERING FATHER
BY SHOOTING HIM AFTER DISPUTE OVER
KEEPING FIREARM IN THEIR HOME
SANTA ANA – A 35-year-old man was charged today with murdering his father by shooting him after a dispute over keeping a firearm in their Huntington Beach home. Jeremy Dwayne Martin, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison. Martin is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Tuesday, May 24, 2011, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
In May 2011, Jeremy Martin was living in Huntington Beach with his 62-year-old father Frederick Martin. Early in the morning on May 20, 2011, Jeremy Martin is accused of getting into a verbal argument with his father because the victim was unhappy that Jeremy Martin was keeping a firearm in the home. Frederick Martin took the firearm from the defendant, but Jeremy Martin is accused of struggling with his father and taking the firearm back.
Frederick Martin called 911 and asked the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD), who investigated this case, to come to the home to “evaluate” his son. The victim made no mention of the firearm to the officers. HBPD officers responded to the home, but left after Jeremy Martin refused to speak with them.
After the officers left, Frederick Martin again confronted his son about the firearm in the home. Jeremy Martin is accused of then murdering the victim by shooting him one time. Frederick Martin died at the scene.
Jeremy Martin is accused of calling 911 and reporting that he had shot his father. He was arrested at the scene by HBPD.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Sonia Balleste of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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