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Suspect in Oxnard man's death is arrested
Vincent Martinez was shot to death outside home in '05
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Chuck Kirman / Star staff file photo Marisa Martinez gets a hug from District Attorney Greg Totten at a National Crime Victims' Rights Week ceremony in April. Martinez received an award for her work on behalf of crime victims. A suspect has been arrested in the slaying of her son.
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More from County NewsA suspect was arrested Friday in connection with the slaying of an Oxnard man who was gunned down near his home, according to Oxnard detectives.
The arrest of Antonio Navarrete, 23, occurred more than two years after 19-year-old Vincent Martinez was killed.
Navarrete was in the county jail for a slew of gang- related vandalism and drug charges when he was arrested. He is now being held without bail for Martinez's murder.
The victim's mother, Marisa Martinez, said Saturday that the family is still in shock after police told them about the arrest.
"I never knew this day was going to come," she said.
She said she first heard Antonio Navarrete's name on Friday.
"I don't know anything about him," she said.
Navarrete is scheduled to make his first court appearance on the murder charge on Wednesday.
In a news release and subsequent e-mails issued Saturday, Sgt. Jim Seitz, major crimes supervisor, stated that he believes Navarrete knew Martinez but that they weren't acquaintances.
"Navarrete is a member of a tagging crew," Seitz stated. Such groups engage in graffiti and other forms of vandalism.
The victim wasn't a gang member or involved with tagging crews, according to Seitz.
He declined to elaborate on what led to the suspect's arrest.
Martinez graduated from Channel Islands High School, where he played basketball and football. On the day he was killed, March 11, 2005, he was with his mother shopping and preparing for a new job as a janitor at a convalescent home.
About 6:30 p.m., he stepped outside of their south Oxnard home to join some friends. Witnesses told police that someone drove a white Ford Bronco past Martinez and began to challenge him, according to the news release.
The driver of the Bronco, later identified as Navarrete, pulled up to the area where Martinez was standing and allegedly shot him while driving by.
Seitz said this was an "extremely complex case that took several turns throughout the investigation."
"Navarrete was identified as a suspect early on in the investigation," Seitz stated in an e-mail. However, the department had to take the time to put together a solid case, he said.
Marisa Martinez said detectives kept the family abreast of how the investigation was going, but certain information was withheld so as not to jeopardize it.
Martinez said she would call police on a regular basis to get information and that she credits former Oxnard Detective Michael Palmieri and Detective Joe Chase for never giving up and finally arresting a suspect.
"They were 100 percent supportive with us," she said.
Police told her and her husband, Rigo Martinez, about the arrest on Friday. "There are a lot of things that they can't discuss with us," she said.
Since the killing, trips to Vincent's grave at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard have become a main feature of the family's holidays and anniversaries, including the birthday Vincent shared with his twin brother, Victor.
Seeking an outlet for her grief, Marisa Martinez founded a local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, a national nonprofit support group, and built an extended family of people with similar tragic experiences.
The group now has more than 20 members.
The Martinez family still remains fearful after the shooting of their son Vincent, whose daughter is now 2 years old.
According to court and jail records, Navarette is charged with sale and transportation of a controlled substance; possession of a controlled substance; misdemeanor possession of a smoking device; numerous counts of felony and misdemeanor vandalism; being under the influence of a controlled substance; possession of tools to commit vandalism and special allegation charges that some of the crimes were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
Navarrete was convicted of three counts of misdemeanor vandalism in August 2004 after he pleaded guilty, according to court records.
Posted by ljo832 on December 23, 2007 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This Mr. Navarette character sounds like a fine upstanding pillar of the community, (The Gang community that is). What a fine piece of work he is, he must be the pride of his Family.
Posted by devilangelhawk on December 23, 2007 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The mother may feel no blame, but the saying goes "Mother is God in the eyes of a child".
Posted by Haksnard on December 23, 2007 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, they have the wrong guy. The person who is responsable for Martiez's death is no other than his girlfriend for being with so many guys while she was with him. If she had any respect for him or her daughter she would man up and come clean. It was her fault for bragging about were she and Martinez were from to anyone that would listen. Yes, they try to make it seem like Vincent was such a good boy but he was also gang related. He was also from a crew and believe me he committed some serious crimes too. I'm not talking bad about no one I just want to put it out there. I know Antonio since we kids and half of the things beign said about him are not true at all. He is beign portrait as a heartless murderer, when in reality he is no more dangerous as Vincent was. I also think that th opd shouldn't release any info. until they know what they're letting out is a fact not an opinion from someone who just thaught she would go to the police and report him just because they have nothing better to do. and to Vincent's mother no disrespect but keep you know that saying Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, maybe it should be the other way around. You have learnd from yourself that people aren't what they appear to be. Antonio had nothing to do with your son's murder but someone he might have cared for alot did.
Posted by SoCalOxnard on December 23, 2007 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HAKSNARD.. what does that stand for H.A. Krew in oxnard or what..hmm sure does.. Yeah we dont know if it is the right guy but time will tell, and he will have his day in court. I knew vince and his brother, yes we all did dumb stuff when we were younger but that doesn't give anyone the right to be killed. To say it was his girlfriends fault is also dumb of you to say online also your making it seem like you know something! God bless the dead.
Posted by missing805 on December 23, 2007 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know we were all young at one point, if you guys did "dumb stuff" thats your problem. I did not do "dumb stuff" and Im still alive. So you play with fire and you get burn. Hang with the wrong people and this is what happens. Mothers think their kid is an angel, but in reality you work so hard to "give your kids everything they need" that you forget that what they need is LOVE. But this generation has forgotten that, they rather work 2-3 jobs to keep their house, that they lose their family in the process..
Posted by AnnaWhaat on December 23, 2007 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SoCalOxnard ,Very well put!
Posted by ironwoman on December 23, 2007 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have some respect for the victim and their family.
Posted by lrgvanman on December 23, 2007 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People that have to handle their problems in life with attacks using guns are cowards and deserve all justice served.
Posted by TiquisiaPrincess on December 23, 2007 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it interesting that people come on this message board, and many times defend a criminal and while they're doing it, they throw other ugly and negative comments to try to sway them from the truth.
In this case, that's just not going to happen. This man has been arrested for a long list of felonies and additionally the big one and most heinous, MURDER.
All you've done Mr. Haksnard with your disgraceful comments is made this Antonio look more guilty than he already is. Mentioning Mr. Martinez's girlfriend in such a negative way and even mentioning his young daughter in the same breath is lacking in sensativity and respect.
And for anyone else who wishes to make negative comments. In the future, show a little more respect and morality for a life that was cut short and taken way to soon, and for the family who is left to grieve.
Lets not hide behind the "he did this, he did that, scenario". Fact is NO one, ABSOLUTLY NO ONE, has the right to take a life and leave a parent to bury their child.
Posted by cindeees00 on December 24, 2007 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1st of all his girl friend and daughter have nothing to do with the killing....... only that she will never know who her dad was...because some ****** took his life!....his in JAIL....and not getting out ever!....sorry in there for life till he dies in there.....I dont know why you HA'er can sit here and try to say he didnt do it please ever one knows..... please hater backing up ur friend u'll never see him again out here!.....no one ever said Vicent was a good kid but no life should be taken..... HAVE SOME MORE RESPECT..... wow look at all the other stuff committed too.... loser u should been hiding better but it catchs up to you anyways sooner or later..... sorry that you loss your friend too... but u can still visit him in jail but for us in till we meet with Vicent again?????
Posted by heartbroken on December 25, 2007 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Haksnard,
I guess since he was your friend you know everyhting about him huh? Maybe, you were perhaps in the car? and you must know then who did this? Let me give you some advice he will be a friend now but I bet you will not visit him in jail for the rest of your life, now that is a real friend, but he will be someone you knew in the past. Trust me I've seen too many of these crimes happen and people tend to go on with their lives. The only people that will be there for him is his family. But, you are too you to understnad these things, but you will realize later in life after you have your family life goes on. By the way aren't there more then one of the Navarrete's in jail and maybe more to come. I hope someday you will understand life and forget about all the tagging for your sake! Unless you will be there in jail with your fiend. No one has the right to kill someone! I am sure if it was Antonio who would of been killed you would feel the same way. Have some respect for the familia! How come you want to make Vincent look like he was asking for it and he desrved it?
Posted by UkNoWmYNaMe on December 26, 2007 at 2:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i agree with haksnard nobody has the right to judge anybody .. all of you are saying what you are saying based on this article you are reading.. they are not facts you dont even know this guy and are already talking bad about him it shows how ignorant some people can be
Posted by oxnard143 on December 27, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really think that this whole situation is horrible. I think that for both families it is hard to see what has happened to their sons. Not only for the family of Vincent but the family of Antonio. Yes, Antonio didn't have the right to take Vincent's life. No one only GOD has the right to do so. God needed another angel so he took Vincent. He is taking care of his family and daughter from up above. Don't ever forget that. As for Antonio's case...I think that a mother or father can only give a child so much. If they want to be troubled they are going to be troubled not because of anything that the parents did. Antonio messed up his live. Justice will be served if he did commit this horrible crime. I believe you reak what you weap. I knew him and he was a good guy. He turned into someone totally different and if he gets convicted it is his own fault for falling in the wrong foot steps. All these gangs and tagging crew are fighting for what? Land and territory that isn't thiers. All they do is make this city worse..
Posted by Libra40 on January 3, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
missing805 - Your comments about "Mothers working so hard to give their child everything they want, but what they really need is LOVE... and, this generation works 2-3 jobs in order to keep their house, but lose their family in the process..." did something to me when I read them. They made me open my eyes and realize that even though we mean well, sometimes our priorities are wrong. Thank you for the reality check and God bless.
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