A father allegedly armed his 14-year-old son for a gang-related drive-by shooting that killed one person and wounded two others in Los Angeles, showcasing a disturbing example of how gang culture perpetuates across generations.
Key Takeaways
- Roberto Martinez allegedly provided his 14-year-old son with a .40-caliber Glock pistol used in a fatal drive-by shooting that killed Kevin Rivera and wounded two others
- The father-son duo was reportedly on a graffiti spree in downtown LA’s Pico-Union neighborhood on February 10 when the shooting occurred in rival gang territory
- Martinez, a member of The Magicians’ Club (TMC) gang, has a history of drug and weapons charges and allegedly believed Rivera belonged to a rival gang
- The murder weapon was later sold for $800 and recovered in Wilmington, California, with ballistics tests confirming it was used in the crime
- Despite later claiming he tried to stop the shooting, Martinez reportedly told a fellow inmate, “My son did what he had to do”
Father Involves Son in Gang Violence
Roberto “Stranger” Martinez stands accused of orchestrating and facilitating a deadly gang-related shooting carried out by his teenage son in Los Angeles. According to police reports, Martinez and his 14-year-old son were engaged in marking territory with yellow spray paint in the Pico-Union neighborhood on February 10 when the violent incident occurred. Surveillance footage captured the father-son duo tagging buildings with their gang names and symbols shortly before the shooting. This criminal collaboration happened in territory controlled by a rival gang known as the Playboys, escalating an already tense situation.
“My son did what he had to do, dog,” said Martinez, allegedly a fellow inmate, according to Yahoo News.
The shooting resulted in the death of Kevin Rivera and left two other individuals wounded. Both Martinez and his son now face murder charges, though details of the son’s case remain sealed due to his age. Authorities allege that Martinez believed Rivera was affiliated with a rival gang, providing the motive for the attack. The investigation revealed that Martinez, an established member of The Magicians’ Club (TMC) gang, has a significant criminal history involving drugs and weapons charges, creating a pattern of behavior that ultimately led to this tragedy.
Conflicting Claims and Evidence
Despite the damning evidence against him, Martinez has attempted to distance himself from responsibility for the shooting. In a recorded phone call, he claimed, “Honestly I tried to stop him. I tried to grab the gun,” according to court documents. This contradicts his earlier boastful statements to fellow inmates and the physical evidence collected by investigators. Law enforcement officials have determined that Martinez handed his son the .40-caliber Glock pistol used in the shooting, directly implicating him in the murder regardless of his later attempts to rewrite the narrative.
“Honestly I tried to stop him. I tried to grab the gun,” Martinez claimed in a recorded call, according to Yahoo News.
The weapon itself has been recovered and linked to the crime through ballistics testing. Police found the gun in Wilmington, California, after it had changed hands following the shooting. WhatsApp messages discovered during the investigation suggest the Glock was sold for $800 just five days after the murder. The gun was sold to Antonio Alvarez, who was later detained by LAPD officers. The sale was reportedly coordinated by someone near Centinela State Prison, adding another layer to this complex criminal network that continues to operate even from behind bars.
Gang Culture and Family Dynamics
Experts note that while it’s rare for older gang members to directly involve younger family members in violent crimes, it does occur in particularly disturbing cases. Ramon Mendoza, a former gang member turned expert witness, provided insight into this troubling dynamic. The case highlights a distressing reality about how gang culture can corrupt family relationships and perpetuate cycles of violence across generations. Instead of protecting his child from the dangers of gang life, Martinez appears to have deliberately pulled his son deeper into criminal activity.
“The hardcore gang members, they seek for the most part to insulate the innocents, their family, from what they are,” explained Ramon Mendoza, adding that “rather than deter and discourage their kids, in some sick way they look at (violence) as a kind of bonding event.” according to American Military News
This case represents a stark example of how gang violence continues to plague American cities, despite decades of law enforcement efforts to combat it. It also raises serious questions about the failure of our society to protect children from being drawn into violent criminal enterprises. While Martinez faces justice for his alleged role in the murder, the damage to his son’s life and future has already been done. The teenager now faces murder charges and the prospect of growing up in the juvenile justice system rather than experiencing a normal adolescence.
