Suspect in double shooting headed to trial
GOSHEN — A man who faces murder and attempted murder charges in a Halloween party shooting is headed to trial Monday.
Joshua Peter Martinez, 24, is accused of murder and attempted murder in a Nov. 3 shooting outside a north Elkhart auto shop. He allegedly opened fire while attending a party, killing one man and leaving another with multiple gunshot wounds.
Martinez was arrested on Nov. 7 after police interviewed witnesses, viewed videos of the shooting and collected evidence from the scene that included a side mirror cap belonging to a Honda. Martinez allegedly had a black Honda Civic at his residence that was missing a side mirror cap and that had blood on multiple spots on the front.
Attorneys expect a lengthy trial with multiple people lined up to take the stand, Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno learned Thursday.
'There are a lot of witnesses in this case, so it's possible we'll need a sixth day of trial,' Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker said. 'We're all on board for some long days in trial.'
Martinez's lawyer, Donald Schmid, said there's also a lot of footage of the crime for jurors to view.
'I've looked at scores of videos, and I'm still seeing things for the first time,' he said.
Christofeno, who normally has a spate of hearings on Wednesday and Thursday, told the attorneys that he may be able to push some of those off to leave more time for the trial. He expressed a hope that the trial doesn't extend past Friday.
'I want to get this case done,' he said. 'I can't imagine we'll have to go on Saturday. Number one, because the jury will end up hating both of you.'
Elkhart police responded to the shooting at 754 C.R. 3 at around 4:40 a.m. They found one victim, Romulo Jesus Reyes Osuna, in the parking lot suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Reyes Osuna died despite officers' attempts at life-saving measures. An autopsy the next day preliminarily ruled the death to be a homicide.
Carlos Martinez was also found in the parking lot suffering from several gunshot wounds and was transported to Elkhart General Hospital in critical condition. It was later learned that he had also been struck by the shooting suspect's vehicle as it fled.
Carlos Martinez told investigators that he heard someone at the party say he was going to get a gun and shoot everyone while running to a Honda Civic parked nearby. Carlos Martinez said Reyes Osuna was running after the man and asked him to come help.
Carlos Martinez said he could hear Reyes Osuna telling the suspect to calm down as he reached the car. He said the suspect had a gun in his hand and Reyes Osuna tried to push the car door closed to keep him inside, according to police.
Carlos Martinez said he remembered being shot and then run over by the car.
Police say security cameras captured the moment the two victims were shot. They could be seen following a man, who was later identified as Joshua P. Martinez based on height and appearance, as he ran to the Civic before multiple muzzle flashes are seen.
Carlos Martinez fell to the ground after the first shot and Reyes Osuna was shot while trying to run away, according to police. The shooter could be seen getting in the car and driving away, running over Carlos Martinez several times in the process.
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