PHOENIX Officer Shooting Suspect Deported Last Year

PHOENIX Officer Shooting Suspect Deported Last Year


Officer Dies Of Gunshot Wound; Police Shoot, Kill Suspect


PHOENIX -- The man suspected of killing a Phoenix police officer Tuesday was an illegal immigrant who had been deported last year, immigration officials said.

Erik Jovani Martinez, 22, was deported to Mexico on March 3, 2006 after he was convicted on a theft charge, according an Immigration Services spokesman.



Phoenix police shot and killed Martinez, who was suspected of shooting
and killing an officer, carjacking a vehicle and taking a man hostage.


IMAGES: Officer Killed; Suspect Dead In Carjacking Confrontation

"It is an unfortunate situation I have to inform you that the City of
Phoenix has suffered another tragedy," said Mike Frazier, assistant police chief.

"We lost an officer who was killed in the line of duty," Frazier said.

VIDEO: Acting Phoenix Police Chief Mike Frazier Announces Officer's Death

Police said two officers, Nick Erfle and Rob Rodarme, stopped two women and a man who were jaywalking near 24th Street and Thomas Road around 8:30 a.m.

Police said the officers asked the three for identification and learned
the man, who identified himself as 24-year-old Anthony Sanchez, had a misdemeanor warrant out for his arrest. Phoenix police Sgt. Joel Tranter later
said Anthony Sanchez was one of many aliases used by Martinez, who was wanted in Tucson on a shoplifting charge.

Tranter said Martinez gave an alias because he was trying to conceal a felony warrant out for his arrest. The warrant was filed in Maricopa Superior
Court and was for aggravated assault.

Erfle walked back to Martinez and began to arrest him, Tranter said. Rodarme was nearby with the two women.

A physical confrontation quickly ensued and Martinez pulled a handgun
and fired multiple shots, Tranter said. One of them struck Erfle.



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