Area man shot in face

A 32-year-old Las Vegas man was arrested Monday on a charge of attempted murder after police say he fired a shotgun into a residence, striking a victim in the head and chest area.

Courtesy photo

Paul Martinez

Buy this photo

Paul Martinez, who lives on the 900 block of E. Prince Street, told police the shotgun went off accidentally, though the victim and another witness told authorities that he had been harassing them.

Martinez was booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center. Magistrate Chris Najar set his bond at $100,000 cash.

The shooting occurred shortly before 2:30 a.m. at a home on the 100 block of Independence Avenue. Prince Street and Independence Avenue meet at the Gallinas bridge.

The victim, Joseph Trujillo, sustained pellet-sized gunshot wounds to his face and chest but is expected to survive.

Trujillo told police that he opened the door of the residence and saw Trujillo with a shotgun, according to the probable cause statement filed in San Miguel County Magistrate Court. Trujillo said he closed the d≠oor when he saw that Martinez was holding a shotgun.

A short while later the shotgun was fired into the residence. A wall absorbed the brunt of the impact, but pellets traveled through the wall and struck Trujillo in the face and chest.

The probable cause statement states that the residence where the shooting occurred belonged to Gabriel Garcia. Garcia took Trujillo to Alta Vista Regional Hospital after he was shot.

A criminal complaint filed Monday charges Martinez with attempted murder and shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, both second-degree felonies. Martinez has also been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence, both third-degree felonies.

Garcia told police that Martinez initially arrived at his residence at about 11 p.m. on Sunday, introduced himself as Paul and said he wanted to drink. Garcia said the man threatened him and even pulled out a knife and placed it against his neck “playing around.”

Garcia told police the man then insisted that they go for a ride, and they went to the Rodriguez Park area. Garcia said he feared for his life.

The men returned to the residence on Independence, and Martinez went to a neighbor’s residence. Garcia told police he brought Trujillo to his residence.

Martinez later knocked on the front door. Trujillo said he told Martinez to go away and to stop harassing Garcia or he would call the cops.

Trujillo said Martinez left but returned with the shotgun.

Garcia identified Martinez as the shooter. Police arrested Martinez at his Prince Street residence. When daylight arrived, an officer noticed a ladder on  the east side of the residence that was extended to the roof. From the sidewalk, the officer saw what appeared to be a shotgun on the roof.

Martinez told police he was at the victim’s residence with the shotgun to sell it to him.

He said the weapon was accidentally fired and admitted that he then took the shotgun and hid it in his house.