FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The wife of 25-year-old Simon Martinez asks for help finding her husband’s killer during a press conference held at Fresno Police Headquarters on Friday.
“Simon was senselessly murdered shortly after midnight on July 16, 2023. The suspect(s) have yet to be identified.“
Police Chief Paco Balderrama stood with Simon’s Martinez’s family, to provide an update along with announcing an increase in the reward money to $5000 to find the killer.
It was around 12:30 a.m. on July 16, 2023 that Martinez, and his 27-year-old wife Leticia decided to walk home after a party when they were both shot.
They were on the 2200 block of South Thorne by Geary when a white man with a gun approached them and demanded money.
Chief Balderrama says Simon got into a struggle, he decided to fight back, overpowered him and disarmed the man.
As Letica was calling 9-1-1, a white compact vehicle pulled up and a Hispanic man in his 20’s got out of the passenger seat, armed with a gun and shot at them.
“All I ask for is public help – we want justice.”
The hunt is on for the suspect who will face murder and robbery charges
“The individual who got out of the vehicle has been described as a man in his 20’s. We do believe the intent was a robbery and resulted in a homicide.”
-Fresno Police Chief Balderrama
Call Valley Crime Stoppers with any tips at 498-STOP.
Listen to the reports by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
