Santa Paula Gang Member Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder

Booking Photo Mark Martinez

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Mark Martinez (DOB 12/02/82), of Santa Paula, was found guilty of first-degree murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling for the shooting death of Norma Elizalde, of Santa Paula, which occurred on March 29, 2014. The jury also found true that Martinez was an active member of a criminal street gang, that the offense was carried out to further the activities of the criminal street gang, and that he personally discharged a firearm causing the victim’s death.

Ms. Elizalde was inside her home on the afternoon of March 29, 2014, when Martinez incited a confrontation with two rival gang members on the sidewalk outside Ms. Elizalde’s home.  After verbally challenging the rival gang members, Martinez invoked the name of his gang, got out of his car and attacked them. During an exchange of gunfire, one of the bullets from Martinez’s gun went through Ms. Elizalde’s home and struck her in the neck, killing her. The case was investigated by Santa Paula Police Department.

Martinez will remain in custody at the Ventura County jail pending sentencing which is scheduled April 29, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 26 of the Ventura Superior Court, County of Ventura. Martinez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.

Follow the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on Twitter @VenturaDAOffice

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