Mark Timothy Hice, 22, Ojo Caliente
Axel Zamarron, 17, Espanola
Anton Martinez, 19, Santa Cruz
Brittany Garcia, 21, Ojo Caliente
Española, NM – First Judicial District Attorney Marco Serna announced Sunday he will be filing criminal complaints against four defendants in connection with the horrific Oct. 4 shooting of four young people, including the murder of Cameron Martinez near Ohkay Owingeh.
Serna said he is filing criminal complaints charging Mark Hice, Anton Martinez, and an underage male with first degree murder, three counts of shooting at or from a motor vehicle, two counts of conspiracy, and one count of tampering with evidence. Serna is also charging an underage female with one count each of conspiracy and tampering with evidence.
“I am angry an disgusted by this evil, horrific act of violence that left three innocent young people severely wounded and an exceptional young man dead,” Serna said. “Cameron Martinez exemplified the best of New Mexico and was on a path to a very bright future making his community a better place. I will seek swift justice for his alleged murder and the shooting using the full force of the law to do so, and we pray for the healing of all individuals and families impacted by this senseless tragedy.”
A news release from New Mexico State Police says through their investigation, tips, and interviews, State Police agents learned that on the night of Oct. 4 Hice believed there was a group of people looking for him and wanting to shoot him. It names the underaged male in Serna’s news release as Axel Zamarron and the underaged female as Brittany Garcia.
The news release said Hice arranged a plan with Martinez and Zamarron to shoot anyone whom Hice felt might be a threat to him. Hice, Martinez, and Zamarron were all armed with semi-automatic handguns.
NMSP officials said Hice confessed to agents that around 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, he and Martinez, along with several other occupants, were driving in a white Kia Optima driven by Brittany Garcia (Hice’s girlfriend). Zamarron and other friends were traveling with him in a separate tan Nissan passenger car on NM State Road 68.
Hice observed a blue vehicle approaching them at a high rate of speed. He stated to agents he feared the blue vehicle belonged to someone he felt was a threat. Hice and Martinez in their vehicle, along with Zamarron in the Nissan, opened fire on the blue vehicle.
“This shooting resulted in the death of Cameron Martinez and serious injuries to three other people. The victims are not believed to have been related to any prior involvement with the suspects and were targeted as a mistake,” the NMSP release said. “The three surviving shooting victims have all been released from medical treatment and are in stable condition. Hice, Martinez, Zamarron, and Garcia have all been captured by State Police and arrested for their involvement.”