A Galveston County grand jury has decided not to indict Officer Joshua Nino De Guzman in the shooting death of Randy Martin, who, according to a civil rights attorney, was unarmed during the incident that followed a traffic stop. The family of Martin is determined to continue their pursuit of justice despite the grand jury’s decision.
The grand jury reviewed the investigation conducted by the Texas Rangers, which included video footage of the incident, before arriving at their no-bill decision regarding Officer De Guzman. Martin’s mother and brother have expressed their desire to personally view the video evidence to understand better what transpired that fateful day.
Civil rights attorney Alberto Ruiz has stated that Randy Martin was unarmed when he was shot by Officer De Guzman on May 18. This is not the first time De Guzman has been involved in a shooting, as he has previously faced two other police shooting incidents, from which he was cleared of wrongdoing by the Galveston Police Department. Additionally, he has received commendations, including an Officer of the Year award for a separate heroic act involving the rescue of a child.
Paula Martin, Randy’s mother, voiced her deep anguish, emphasizing that no parent should learn about their child’s death through media outlets or social media. “You all say killed, my son was murdered,” she lamented. The incident occurred during an altercation that followed the traffic stop, leaving the family with unanswered questions.
Ruiz has stated that the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that he, along with Randy’s mother and brother, will have the opportunity to review the video evidence by September 21. Meanwhile, the Galveston Police Department has indicated that its internal affairs investigation into the shooting is still ongoing.
