HOMESTEAD MAN SENTENCED TO STATE PRISON IN KEY LARGO ROAD RAGE SHOOTING
The incident unfolded near the 104-mile marker of U.S. 1 and began in a designated school zone. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Martinez and the victim were involved in a traffic dispute that escalated after both parties pulled to the side of the road. Following a heated verbal exchange, Martinez returned to his white Dodge Ram pickup truck and fired four to five rounds from a Beretta .40 caliber pistol into the victim’s vehicle tires.
The victim, who was not injured, was able to identify Martinez’s workplace based on a decal seen on a van that had been traveling with him. Deputies responded to the business, located Martinez, and recovered the firearm from his truck. Martinez gave a full confession on scene, and was positively identified by the victim during a show-up conducted by detectives.
On Friday, Circuit Judge James Morgan sentenced Martinez to 20 months in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections. In addition to his prison sentence, Martinez was ordered to pay fines, court costs, and his driver’s license was suspended as part of the penalty.
Martinez was adjudicated guilty of the following charges:
· Aggravated Assault with a Firearm
· Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle
· Criminal Mischief
“This was an outrageous act of violence committed in broad daylight, and worse, in a school zone,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “Baldemar Martinez made a conscious choice to escalate a traffic dispute into a life-threatening encounter by discharging a firearm in public. He fired at another person’s vehicle with the intent to intimidate or cause harm. If you let your temper take the wheel and respond to road rage with a gun, you won’t just lose your cool—you’ll lose your freedom. You will go to prison. Monroe County has zero tolerance for this kind of reckless, armed aggression, and my office will be relentless in pursuing justice in cases involving such outrageous acts of violence.”
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield emphasized the swift and effective resolution: “Thanks to the fast response of Monroe County deputies, the cooperation of the victim, and the strong case developed by law enforcement, we were able to obtain a conviction and meaningful sentence. Assistant State Attorney Trey Evans did an outstanding job prosecuting this case. His attention to detail, strategic preparation, and professionalism ensured the public’s safety was prioritized.”
Though Martinez had no prior criminal record, his actions have now resulted in a prison term, a permanent felony conviction, and the loss of his driving privileges.
No Comment