OC Man Gets Life In Prison For Fatally Shooting Dad In Firearm Dispute
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A Huntington Beach man Friday was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for fatally shooting his father after a dispute about keeping a firearm in their home.
On March 26, a jury found 37-year-old Jeremy Dwayne Martin guilty of one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death.
On May 20, 2011, Jeremy Martin was living in Huntington Beach with his 62-year-old father, Frederick Martin, when the two men got into a verbal and physical argument because the victim was unhappy that his son was keeping a firearm in the home.
Frederick Martin called 911 and asked Huntington Beach Police to come to the home to "evaluate" his son. The victim made no mention of the firearm or physical altercation to the officers, according to Orange County Deputy District Attorney Sonia Balleste.
Officers later responded to the home, but Jeremy Martin did not answer the door.
After the officers left, Jeremy Martin murdered the victim by shooting him one time. Frederick Martin died at the scene. Jeremy Martin called 911 and reported that he shot his father. He was later arrested at the scene.
During the trial, the defense argued that Jeremy Martin killed his father while in a methamphetamine-induced psychosis, and therefore could not form the intent to kill.
