Toddlers Were In Car When Officer Shot Fugitive And Woman

DENVER, CO – Police released more details on Monday evening of the Feb. 1 fatal officer-involved shooting in southwest Denver.

A JeffCo Sheriff's deputy, assisting US Marshals trying to serve a warrant on a man, shot into a car driven by a woman with two toddler-age children in the backseat, a statement from the Denver Police Department said. The fugitive, who was wanted on a probation violation, died of his injuries and the woman was injured and is still hospitalized.

Agents from a regional law enforcement task force had come to a home in the 200 block of South Canosa Court around 3 p.m. to serve a warrant on Robert Lee Martinez, 45, who was wanted for a probation violation, Denver Police said in a statement.

Martinez left the home and got into a car driven by Sandra Pacheco, 35, who had pulled up in front of the house. As officers tried to stop the car, Pacheco allegedly rammed into several unmarked police cars and allegedly drove toward an officer on foot.

The officer on foot, a Jefferson County sheriff's deputy and member of the task force, shot toward the car, wounding Pacheco "in the extremities," the police statement said.

Martinez allegedly refused to comply with orders to surrender and was "reaching around inside the vehicle," police said. The same JeffCo deputy again fired his gun and struck Martinez.

Two "toddler age" children were in the back seat of the car at the time, but were not injured in the accident. Neither Martinez nor Pacheco was the parent of the children, and the children were returned to their parents, police said.

Martinez and Pacheco were taken to Denver Health Medical Center with gunshot wounds. Pacheco is "expected to survive her injuries," police said. She was arrested, and is facing charges of first degree assault of a police officer with a weapon (the vehicle) and drug possession.

No officers were wounded in the incident. No Denver officers were involved, police said.

Because the shooting took place in Denver, the Denver Police Department is investigating this incident in collaboration with the Aurora Police Department and Denver District Attorney’s Office.

Further details are unknown, because Pacheco’s arrest affidavit is sealed and not available for release, and a booking photo is not available as she remains hospitalized.

Martinez had a record of criminal convictions, starting in the 90s including, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, attempted escape, possession illegal drugs and parole violations, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Most recently, he had been arrested in November, 2018 by the Denver Police Dept. on a trespassing charge. In 2015, he was arrested Edgewater in August of 2015 and held for federal illegal possession of firearm and ammunition charges.

Related: Fugitive In Denver Federal Shooting IDed By Medical Examiner

Related: 2 Shot In US Marshals Action in Southwest Denver

Stay up-to-date on Denver news with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Free newsletters and Email Alerts|Facebook