Man allegedly used assault rifle to kill Phoenix officer

PHOENIX - The man who allegedly shot and killed a Phoenix police officer on Wednesday used an assault rifle, according to court documents.

Danny Ledezma Martinez, 30, is accused of killing 29-year-old Travis P. Murphy, who was searching for Martinez as he hid out in a Phoenix neighborhood.

The shooting occurred when Murphy and another officer responded to a hit and run call, in the area of Fairmount and 19th avenues, around 1:30 a.m.

Sergeant Trent Crump with the Phoenix Police Department said officers had received a call that a Ford Mustang had slammed into a parked car -- and that the driver was trying to cover, and possibly hide the Mustang, in a vacant carport a few doors down.

He said Murphy and another officer split up to search for the suspect.

When Murphy confronted Martinez in a nearby alley, Crump said Martinez shot him.

The other officer reportedly heard the gunshots and found Murphy in front of a home with multiple gunshot wounds to his waist and legs.

Additional units responded to the scene and Murphy was placed in a patrol car and transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Murphy was taken into surgery, but died from his injuries.

Murphy, a four-and-a-half year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department assigned to the Squaw Peak Precinct , was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Phoenix Law Enforcement Association President Mark Spencer said Murphy has a wife, a 2-year-old daughter and a 2-week-old son.

CLICK ON THE ATTACHED SLIDESHOW TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE INCIDENT

A search was launched and homes in the area were evacuated.

Martinez was reportedly found naked, hiding in a shed in the backyard of a home.

According to court documents, Martinez resisted arrest.

An officer fired rubber bullets and a police K9 was used.

Martinez, who police said is in the country legally, was taken into custody and transported to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment of a dog bite.

Items believed to be his clothing were reportedly located in the alley and shoes were also found.

Investigators said they found approximately 11 223 caliber cartridge casings at the scene and it appeared that two 40 caliber cartridge casings were discovered near where Murphy was found.

The report says those casings were likely fired from Murphy’s duty weapon.

A detective reportedly found an AR15 style assault rifle on a shelf in an unlocked storage shed at a home, one house east of where the suspect was located.

Police said the caliber of the assault rifle was believed to match the cartridge casings found at the scene. 

The owner of the car that Martinez is accused of hitting says she followed the commotion and witnessed part of the shooting.

"I heard the officer yell 'get down, get down, get down!', said the woman who did not want to be identified. "Then, bam, bam, bam, bam (sound of gunshots) -- and, then I saw the officer fall."

Rich Rodriguez, a neighbor, said he saw the Mustang back into the carport of an abandoned house and the suspect trying to cover it.

After police came, Rodriguez said he heard gunfire and saw an officer on the ground.

The Mustang involved in the incident is registered to same address on Martinez’s driver license, according to the documents.

Martinez did not admit to his involvement in the murder during an interview on Wednesday, prior to his booking.

Wednesday afternoon, police walked Martinez, who was seen wearing a hospital gown with bandages on his upper arm, into the Fourth Avenue Jail.

Martinez sat with his head down while waiting to appear before the judge at his initial appearance that night.

The judged ruled that Martinez be held without bond. He was booked into jail on charges of first-degree murder and weapons violations.

An investigation revealed that Martinez is a convicted felon, having served time in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris said Martinez has been in and out of prison as far back as 1997 -- for charges including misconduct involving weapons, criminal damage, criminal trespassing and also for drug violations.

According to the DOC, Martinez was also charged with attempted sexual assault in Tucson in 2008.

While in prison, Martinez also faced additional charges for smuggling contraband.

Crump said there are no outstanding suspects in this case, but anyone with information is urged to contact police.