Christmas is one week away, but instead of getting into the holiday spirit, two families are in mourning following two weekend murders. The first occurred on Friday night, around 6:00. 28-year-old Irving Martinez was leaving Mahogany Bay in San Pedro, where he worked, when he was stabbed in front of his common-law wife.
His co-workers, who were more like family, are now mourning alongside his family as they try to understand how the incident could have occurred on the resort's compound.
Courtney Menzies went there today to find out more. Here's her story.
This is the grave where 28-year-old Irvin Martinez will be laid to rest. The father of three was supposed to be getting ready to celebrate Christmas and his birthday next week, but on Friday night, he was fatally stabbed.
Martinez, who was a bartender, was leaving his job site at Mahogany Bay when, according to reports, he got into an altercation with three men, one of whom attacked him. The entire incident occurred before he left the compound, and right in front of his common-law wife.
One of Martinez's friends and coworkers told us that it wasn't like him to engage in arguments.
Patrick Palma, Friend/Co-Worker of Deceased
"I wasn't there so I couldn't put a picture but just from hearing what happened, I know Irvin as well, he's not that type of person that would cause, if he sees that something is going to escalate, he's going to walk away from it, he won't be trying to make the problem bigger or anything, he would just walk away. He was with his girl walking that day I understand the young men just had too many, too much to drink or something, I don't know what really transpired, I couldn't say because I wasn't there but it's just, I'm hurt by how the young man got his life cut short."
And what hurts Palma the most is that Martinez was supposed to accompany him on Friday, but was instead tasked to bartend for another event.
Patrick Palma, Friend/Co-Worker of Deceased
"To be honest, we have events and so forth so we had an event at the resort upstairs and he's a very good worker so they always choose him to do like special events and stuff like that and it's just sad because I missed him that day at the Beach Club, we needed an extra help as well but to be honest if he would have been with us, he would have been with me right now, sitting and talking, but it just hurts for me to see a very good friend, young man that I know, co-worker, just got his life cut short and it's tragic to me as well, it could have happened to anyone. You know, we walk the same path everyday to go to work and from work, sometimes we would even walk from work together and if he would have been with me that day, we would have walked from work together or catch a ride together or something."
And Palma added that Martinez didn't deserve that kind of death, especially since his three children will be left without a father.
Patrick Palma, Friend/Co-Worker of Deceased
"I know Irvin from he was very young, hardworking young man, dedicated to his work. Takes care of his family, he has three kids, a very young kid as well, and it's just tragic how things happen these days in life but I could say he's a very hardworking young man, doesn't go out too much, from work to home and he's always loyal and take care of his family as well, he's very hardworking, he pushes work to the extreme. I know him more as a friend, he's like a friend, like a family member to me as well and also a very great co-worker. He push, we always make sure we push to the extent to make our bosses happy, our guests happy, and it's just tragic how things happen these days. Like I said, Irvin was a very cool young man. What happened to him, he didn't deserve it."
And police have since arrested one person, David Lambey, a construction worker, who has been charged for this murder.
|
