Former teacher remembers Joshua Martinez as serious student

Susan Du — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:19:53 -0500

Joshua Martinez / Photo from Twitter

Joshua Martinez' was an "extraordinarily charming" person who became involved in gangs at a young age, a former teacher said.

Martinez, 20, was fatally shot about 1 a.m. Sunday during a fight in the 3000 block of West 53rd Place, authorities said. Prosecutors claim 17-year-old Angel Jara shot Martinez multiple times during a dispute over money.

Martinez' former teachers at Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy said he had been involved in gangs, what they called "neighborhood extracurricular activities," at a young age.

Despite the alleged gang affiliations and warnings that Martinez and his brother were disruptive in class, mathematics instructor Ty Martinez remembered him as "extraordinarily charming."

"Both boys were, I'd say euphemistically, high energy," said Ty Martinez, who is now employed by Evanston/Skokie District 65. "They had a reputation at school, but I found them both extremely witty."

Ty Martinez only encountered Joshua Martinez outside of class, but Saucedo was small enough where those interactions meant meeting the entire family at parent-teacher conferences.

"I think it's fair to say Joshua was a little bit angrier, maybe just testier than [his brother]," Ty Martinez said. "He just had a little more of an edge to his attitude. He was more serious than his brother."

As a former Chicago Public Schools teacher, Martinez said he often hears about student deaths. He said when teachers know their students are involved in gangs there is a constant fear they won't survive.

Ty Martinez said he first felt "superficially sad" when he learned from other teachers at Saucedo that a former student had been fatally shot. When news really sunk in, he found himself thinking of the boys' mother and what he remembered of her evident concern for their school lives.

"It's just such a great shame that as educators we're tasked with seeing, excavating, catalyzing the potential of young human beings," Martinez said. "Problems that are beyond us, that we don't really have any control over, it feels sometimes like they conspire to rob us of those potentials. Even momentary contact with any of these children is filled with promise."

Prosecutors: Angel Jara fatally shot Joshua Martinez during dispute over money

Michael Lansu — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 13:57:36 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Angel Jara was denied bond Monday for allegedly fatally shooting a fellow gang member during a dispute over money early Sunday in the Gage Park neighborhood, prosecutors said.

On Saturday, Jara and Joshua Martinez got into an argument over the phone about money that the 17-year-old Jara allegedly owed Martinez, Assistant State's Attorney Glendon Runk said.

Martinez, 20, went to South Albany Avenue and West 52nd Street early Sunday to meet Jara, who said he did not have the money, Runk said. A fight ensued, but was broken up by people at the scene.

Jara said he had the money at his home in the 3000 block of West 53rd Place, and a witness walked with the pair to the residence, Runk said.

Jara went inside the front door while Martinez and the witness waited on the porch, Runk said. Less than a minute later, Jara allegedly cracked open the front door and fired five shots at Martinez with a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with a laser scope.

Martinez was shot in the back of the head, lower back, left side and left shoulder and fell from the front porch, Runk said.

Martinez, of the 4900 block of South Karlov Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The witness was cut by glass from the front door and fled into the street, Runk said.

Police recovered a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun from Jara's home and took him into custody at the scene, Runk said. The witness also identified Jara as the shooter.

Jara was charged with one count of first-degree murder, authorities said. Judge James Brown ordered him held without bond at a Monday hearing.

Jara is a sophomore at Curie Metro High School and has lived at the home his entire life, his public defender said.

Angel Jara | Homicide Watch Chicago

Former teacher remembers Joshua Martinez as serious student

Prosecutors: Angel Jara fatally shot Joshua Martinez during dispute over money