9-22-18 at about 12:56 a.m., Escondido Police Communications received several calls of a shooting taking place at Pounders bar in the 100 block of W. Grand Ave. ce Officers arrived, citizens pointed out the suspect to officers. Officers chased the suspect on foot for several blocks and after a brief struggle, took the suspect into custody. The suspect was identified as Manuel Eliseo Martinez (32 years old), of Escondido.
Manuel Eliseo Martinez was booked into Vista Jail for the following charges: murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon to commit an assault, carrying a loaded firearm in public, gang member possessing a firearm, possession of a controlled substance for sales, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and resisting arrest.
UPDATED INFORMATION
The deceased victim in this case has been identified as Antonio Martinez. Antonio is the 35-year-old brother of Manuel Martinez, the individual arrested for the shooting.
In the early morning hours Manuel and Antonio Martinez left Pounders bar in a vehicle at a high rate of speed causing the tires to lose traction. A bar patron yelled at the vehicle occupants for the exhibition of speed. A short time later, Manuel and Antonio returned to confront that same patron. Manuel pointed a firearm at the patron as Antonio punched and attacked the patron. A third party intervened and grabbed ahold of Antonio to break up the fight. Manuel fired two rounds striking Antonio and the third party who had intervened. Antonio died from his gunshot wound. The third party suffered non-life threatening injuries.
The third party victim did not know Antonio or Manuel Martinez and does not have any gang ties.
Manuel Martinez, is a documented gang member and was a wanted suspect in three other violent crimes committed in Escondido since October, 2017. EPD has been actively searching for him since that time. Manuel was deported from the U.S. six times, the latest being August 3, 2016. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been actively looking for Manuel for illegal re-entry into the United States since October, 2017.
Please follow the police department via Facebook at www.facebook.com/EscondidoPolice and Twitter (@EscondidoPolice).
To report any suspicious activities in your neighborhood, you may contact the Police Department directly, or you may make an unidentified call on our “Anonymous Tip Line” at (760) 743-TIPS (8477) or via our Web site at police.escondido.org.
