[By posting this I am not implying that I think Miguel was murdered. That's a question for an honest, open investigation to answer. I can't assume because there was an officer in the car that the officer did it. But I can put the question more in public view - for the sake of getting Miguel's people the answers they need. If the officer did not do it - he too will want everyone to have the answers they seek. We wait. Trust is harder, but we try.]"That off-duty police officer and Miguel were very good friends - 'best friends' is how some of those friends and family members put it..."
...The gun reportedly belonged to his best friend, an off duty Miami-Dade County police officer who was also in the car at the time of the shooting. Loved ones told Local 10 they are not buying the suicide theory...
[The off-duty police officer who was with Miguel and whose gun was used is Francisco Fernandez.]
Police investigate possible suicide with officer's gun
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL
June 17, 2008
MIAMI - Miami-Dade County police continue to investigate whether a man fatally shot himself while in a car with an off-duty police officer who was his friend... Police say he shot himself with the friend's gun. The two were sitting inside a black Lexus... How they ended up in the car and how Martinez got the gun are under investigation... [Full article here]
Man Found Dead In Car With Off-Duty Officer
LOCAL10
June 17, 2008
Miami-Dade County police are investigating whether a man fatally shot himself while he was in his car with an off-duty police officer. Friends and relatives gathered at a southwest Miami-Dade County home Monday night, just hours after the shooting death of Miguel Martinez. According to police, the 24-year-old Florida International University student died from a gunshot wound while parked in his own driveway. "He made everybody smile, he was really lighthearted and he loved everybody, " said Gigi Marrero. "It’s been a really hard day for all of us." Police said officers responded to a 911 call of a possible suicide attempt AROUND 6 A.M. MONDAY. When rescue crews arrived, they found Martinez dead inside a black Lexus. The gun reportedly belonged to his best friend, an off duty Miami-Dade County police officer who was also in the car at the time of the shooting. Loved ones told Local 10 they are not buying the suicide theory. "He was in the pool yesterday, Father's Day, playing around with all the nephews," said one relative. "That's not Mikey. He was always happy, always ready to go out. He was just a really happy kid. He had a great family. There was no reason for him ever to want to do something like that?" Detectives have released very little information about the incident, saying only that the off-duty officer, whose name has not been released, is being questioned by investigators... [Full article here]
VIDEO: Man Dies From Gunshot While With Off-Duty Police Officer
FROM VIDEO: "...POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER HE SHOT HIMSELF OR SOMETHING MORE SINISTER OCCURRED. THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS TONIGHT THAN THERE ARE ANSWERS... THE FAMILY MEMBERS TELL ME THEY ARE VERY UPSET OVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR LOVED ONE'S DEATH. MIGUEL "MIKEY" FERNANDEZ DIED IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOME... POLICE HAVE RELEASED LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT, ONLY THAT THE OFF-DUTY OFFICER IS BEING QUESTIONED BY INVESTIGATORS... THAT OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER AND MIGUEL WERE VERY GOOD FRIENDS - "BEST FRIENDS" IS HOW SOME OF THOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS PUT IT - BUT IT APPEARS THAT WAS THE GUN ACTUALLY BELONGING TO THAT POLICE OFFICER THAT WAS USED IN CONNECTION TO THIS SHOOTING..."
This is delicate.
ReplyDeleteGun was found in victims right hand and victim is a lefthanded person.In addition the officer had an obsession with the victim ,some speculate that he was in he closet..Also why call it in as a suicide it could have been accidental???maybe not..Officer also has not spoken to homicide det.,he lawyered up from day one ..coward!!At the very least it should be considered negligent homicide for not having his weopon secured or concealed...
ReplyDeletethis is my bestfriend i have cried throughout the years he died when i was 15 years old i made 2 songs about him so far :/
DeleteClearly it STINKS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSomething is so wrong.
We should make more noise.
do you know if the name of the officer has been released? or any updates on the case? miguel was a friend of a friend.
ReplyDeletethanks.
Officer Francisco Fernandez still on patrol in Miami.If anyone knows anything about the suspicious death of Miguel Angel Martinez PLS call Miami Dade homicide detectives..Miguel's Family is hopeless and desperate for answers...
ReplyDeleteIs there any police cover-up?? noone knows for sure??? Officer Fernandez is still on the force, patroling our streets!! Unbelievable but true. Would we want this to happen to any other family?? I guess not, so what is the Miami-Dade Police waiting for??? It will be too late for someone else soon!! Many stories have been said and heard, but the truth is still in the dark. I would say they were friends but not so much very best friends. Officer Fernandez was always known to be able to twist his ways with lies and always represent a victom role. Sad to know that he is not speaking out the truth. As for him and his family, they have not yet come up front to Miguel Angels family at all. That leaves alot for anyone to think what's the real truth??? Miguel will always be remembered with much love and known to be an awesome guy, happy, goodhearted, simple and overall a great guy!! As for Officer Fernandez, he holds the truth or lie within himself and will always have to live with that tragedy until he dies!!!! May God have mercy on him because he will really need it!! Speak up buddy and take upon your shoulders whatever comes because at the end it is Officer Fernandezs' total neglegiance and responsabilty and he should not be working as an officer anymore!! Take responsability for your unmature actions now!!!
ReplyDeleteI was checking Google. I see nothing. What is UP?
ReplyDeleteWhat was the final decision? The fact that Fernandez lost control of his gun should be enough to get him kicked off the force.
ReplyDeleteLost control?
ReplyDeleteThis has the pattern of the cases where nothing will happen. Unreal isn't it? This blog has too many cases like this. Almost like some police department really just don't care that folks are still asking questions out loud - and proceed forward with no obligation to explain anything to anyone.
It's complete garbage, I agree. I found an update from back in April where the prosecutor dropped all criminal charges against Officer Fernandez, and the police department was then going to begin an "internal investigation." It's straight horseshit. The fact that Fernandez handed over his gun to Miguel is completely reckless and the prosecutor should be disbarred.
ReplyDeleteYou said "The fact that Fernandez handed over his gun..."
ReplyDeleteFACT?
To me that will never be more than what Officer Fernandez SAID happened,
because the dead can't talk.
Everyone is always so quick to blame the officer, if he wasnt convicted of a crime by the state which i think knows a little bit more than all of you then it should be chalked up as a tragedy and leave the poor officer alone and let him live his life.
ReplyDelete@ lady rose....do you really think there was a cover up. Are you that retarded? Do you live in such a delusional world? This isnt the movies. Fact remains that if the officer was at fault he would have been arrested. It sounds to me like your related to the departed some way. The officer doesnt have to give any sort of explanation to you, you know very well what happened as does everyone but sounds like your in denial. What on earth would the officer have to say to you? The fact that the dead cant talk doesnt mean anything, there is such a thing as forensics, a legitimate science. Everyone is so quick to call him a victim, why dont you look at it from the other side of the coin. The officer is probably strugling with the loss of a friend....these brave men protect our streets while we sleep at night, what the hell did he do? Im not fully aware of all the circumstances but to me it sounds like a witch hunt from a pissed off family who probably didnt teach their child how to respect firearms. I personally in the position i hold am going to see that justice is done for both parties because this is ridiculous. From the research that i gathered off the family's son being a fuck up they gained over 500k in insurance claims..sounds to me like they care more about money than justice. I agree with anonymous before me and if a panel of state attorneys wouldnt prosecute there is NOTHING there. Speaking strictly as a former attorney if there was something it would be charged, especially in a death investiagation. So bottom line after being told about this case im extremely upset at how its being handled because if the officer didnt pull the trigger and even if he supposeldy did hand it over, the departed was an adult, if you dont like the laws in the US then you need to leave. So all of you anti police wake up, and if you dont like it stop calling the police when something happens to you. You all want to see someone fry for something he didnt do, and want to see some sort of scandal but wake up, this isnt the 20's, coverups dont exist anymore. Bottom line, no arrest no crime. Chalk it up to stupidity on the departeds halve. After i pull the strings i need to pull i will post more facts about this case, bad mouthing someone who is willing to give his life for us sounds like jealously and bitterness. Grow up, and wake the F up.
ReplyDelete-Somone who is sick of seeing cops slandered.
To the person who wanted to be unnecessarily cruel and insulting to lady rose, if you can write your opinion without the lengthy insult after insult after insult I will post your opinion about the legality of how the case was handled.
ReplyDeletewhat happened?
ReplyDeleteIt's idiotic to say if an officer did something he'd be held accountable for it. Go to the base page for this blog and you will see the link to a post about how many wives and girlfriends of officers are said to have committed suicide.
ReplyDelete...this is a cover up.. drugs make people do stupid things --even legal ones...
ReplyDelete