NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – Markquette Martin’s family says they are angry at the little information that exists about their son’s death.
Martin died while on the run from officers on Wednesday. Police say he shot himself, in what is being described as a “probably unintended” shot.
Read more: Police: man dies of self-inflicted “probably accidental” gunshot while fleeing police
“I feel like any other parent who loses a child. It’s like it’s taken my heart out, ”said Markquette Gray, Martin’s father.
Gray was only a few feet from where Martin died when he told NewsChannel 5 about the incident on Thursday. He heard the Metro Nashville police report about the incident, but compared to what his neighbors have told him in the past few hours, he says he has no clear answers.
The police say a neighbor has signaled to two officers to report that a man in a blue “bubble” jacket and hat had a gun and should not have one. The police say they found a person who fits the description, but when asked to speak, he ran. The man was later identified as Martin.
Authorities said Martin shot himself while running away from police officers – something they believe is “probably unintended”. MNPD spokesman Don Aaron said: “maybe he had his finger on the trigger guard and in the running movements the gun went off”
Gray said his son was not suicidal and therefore could not have aimed the gun at himself.
Metropolitan Police officials released the surveillance video of the MDHA video system incident, but the video pauses. Regarding the video, the police said that “the MDHA video system does not record continuously. The “freezes” in the video are from the system itself ”.
Read more: investigation continues on deadly shootings in South Nashville
Gray saw videos shared on social media and he and his family believe that someone knows exactly what happened.
“I am from here, I was born and raised. Very loyal to many people here; so I know without a doubt that they will pass, “said Gray.
The Metropolitan Police say they have found a bullet cartridge used at the scene and the first indications are that it came from a gun loaded by Martin. According to police, preliminary autopsy information shows that Martin died of a single gunshot wound that went in the right side of the head and left in the left side, but the form of death (suicide or accidental) is still under investigation. The MNPD is also performing ballistics on the bullet and shell found on the ground.
Martin’s mother, Lenieshia Woods, says this is just an attempt to cover up what happened to her son and she will not tolerate it.
“I don’t want to be seeing things slipped under the carpet, like everything else around here. I want what happened to my son to be noticed and for everyone to know that it’s not right, “said Woods.
Woods says he is asking neighbors to submit their videos or photos to his family’s church at Saint Luke Primitive Baptist in Nashville.
Videos or photos can be sent to the email below:
Primitive Baptist Church of São Lucas
Pastor Nicholas Patterson – [email protected]