NM State Police Investigate Homicide in Rio Arriba County

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 07 October 2018 07 October 2018

Update as of October 7, 2018

New Mexico State Police agents have been actively investigating the homicide of Cameron Martinez and shootings of three other people which occurred on October 4, 2018. Through their investigation, agents identified multiple suspects connected to the shootings. On October 7, 2018, State Police agents obtained arrest warrants for the suspects in this case.

hiceMARK TIMOTHY HICE, (22) of Ojo Caliente, NM, is charged with Murder in the first degree, Shooting at or from a motor vehicle (resulting in great bodily harm, three counts), Conspiracy - Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, Conspiracy - Tampering with evidence in a capital offense, and Tampering with EvidenceThrough their investigation, tips, and interviews, State Police agents learned that on the night of October 4, 2018, Mark Hice believed there was a group of people looking for him and wanting to shoot him. Hice arranged a plan with Martinez and Zamarron to shoot anyone whom Hice felt might be a threat to him. Hice, Martinez, and Zamarron were all armed with semi-automatic handguns.

Hice confessed to agents that around 9:30 p.m. on October 4, 2018, he and Martinez, along with several other occupants, were driving in a white Kia Optima driven by Garcia (Hice’s girlfriend). Zamarron and other friends were traveling with him in a separate tan Nissan passenger car on NM State Road 68. 

Hice observed a blue vehicle approaching them at a high rate of speed. He stated to agents he feared the blue vehicle belonged to someone he felt was a threat. Hice and Martinez in their vehicle, along with Zamarron in the Nissan, opened fire on the blue vehicle. This shooting resulted in the death of Cameron Martinez, and serious injuries to three other people. The victims are not believed to have been related to any prior involvement with the suspects and were targeted as a mistake.

The three surviving shooting victims have all been released from medical treatment and are in stable condition. Hice, Martinez, Zamarron, and Garcia have all been captured by State Police and arrested for their involvement.

The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau continues to investigate details in this case. No further information is available.

garciaBRITTANY GARCIA, (21) of Ojo Caliente, NM, is charged with Conspiracy - Tampering with evidence in a capital offense and Tampering with Evidence

zamarronAXEL ZAMARRON, (17) of Espanola, NM, is charged with Murder in the first degree, Shooting at or from a motor vehicle (resulting in great bodily harm, three counts), Conspiracy - Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, Conspiracy - Tampering with evidence in a capital offense, and Tampering with Evidence

martinezANTON MARTINEZ, (19) of Santa Cruz, NM, is charged with Murder in the first degree, Shooting at or from a motor vehicle (resulting in great bodily harm, three counts), Conspiracy - Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, Conspiracy - Tampering with evidence in a capital offense, and Tampering with Evidence

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.