Juan Francisco Martinez Jr. (05/25/1989), who has outstanding warrants for the following, has been charged by investigators after an investigation:
Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury
-Assault by Pointing a Gun
-Firearm by Felon
Martinez, 36, is a Hispanic man, 5'7", weighing around 160 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.
According to a press release on August 31 by APD, a shooting took place following a verbal altercation that escalated into a fight shortly after midnight on Saturday.
APD responded to North Lexington Avenue near Hiawassee Street around 12:37 a.m. on August 30th, officers patrolling the area heard gunshots. Upon arrival, they found a victim with a serious gunshot wound to the leg. Officers provided life-saving aid and applied a tourniquet until the arrival of EMS. The victim was transported to Mission Hospital for treatment.
Detectives and Forensic Technicians responded to investigate. They found that a disturbance involving several individuals occurred at a bar, a fight broke out among multiple people. The involved parties left the area on foot and proceeded one block north to a parking lot where a second altercation occurred. During this incident, a male suspect retrieved a large-caliber handgun from a vehicle and fired at another male. The suspect fled the scene on foot.
Investigators found a critical physical evidence and were able to speak to witnesses.
This is an ongoing investigation. If you have information, please contact APD by calling (828) 252-1110. You can also send an anonymous tip by using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search “Asheville PD” in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847.
Editor's Note: A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.
WNCTimes
Image: Asheville Police Department