Man Killed by El Paso Police Officer During Traffic Stop Was Wanted in Arizona

The Crimes Against Persons unit has identified the man who was shot and killed by an El Paso Police officer during a routine traffic stop in Northeast El Paso Friday evening as 33-year-old Andy Martinez of Central El Paso.

According to the department news release, Martinez was a passenger in a sedan that was pulled over at the intersection of Tetons and Dyer for having an expired temporary Texas registration. As one of the officers was talking to the driver, Martinez exited the vehicle while drawing a handgun. He was shot and killed after refusing to comply with commands to drop the weapon.

CAP has since learned that Martinez was wanted in Arizona on a probation violation for transporting a controlled substance. A search of his criminal record by NewsChannel 9 uncovered “a dozen previous arrests” in El Paso County, including “possession of marijuana, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine. The TV station reports his last arrest here was in 2007 for unlawful carrying of a weapon.

As in all officer-involved shootings, the identity of the officer will not be released until after the investigation is completed and forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review and presentation to the Grand Jury. Police will only say that she has been with EPPD for two years.