Murder suspect shot by police was unarmed

Authorities disclosed Wednesday that a murder suspect shot to death by police last week in La Mirada was unarmed at the time of the encounter despite initial reports that he had been armed and fired at police.
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Frank Martinez a 27 year-old documented member of a  Boyle Heights gang was a suspect in the November 30th shooting deaths of two rival Boyle Heights gang members.

When detectives from the LAPD Hollenbeck Division had gathered enough evidence to obtain an arrest warrant detectives thought that Martinez had probably fled the area or was in hiding.

Hollenbeck investigators sought out help from the FBI Fugitive Task Force January. The FBI team have extensive experise hunting down dangerous criminals all over the country.

An investigative lead developed by the joint LAPD/FBI task force pointed detectives in the direction of a  home in La Mirada  where Martinez might have been hiding out.

On March 1st,  LAPD detectives and FBI agents went to the home in the 15500 block of Escalona Road and began surrounding about 8:30 a.m.

Residents exiting through front door confirmed Martinez was inside the home, followed by a radio broadcast from the LAPD helicopter overhead advising they had spotted a possible suspect fleeing out the rear door.

Finding himself  and law enforcement closing in, Martinez climbed up onto the roof of a detached garage at a home behind the Escalona Road residence.

LAPD Commander Andrew Smith said the man refused to comply with orders from officers and was seen fidgeting with something in his jacket pocket.

 Three LAPD officers and a FBI agent opened fire after one LAPD officer claimed he saw Martinez produce a handgun and fire one shot.  Paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene.

 At least one other officer or witness at the scene told the shooting investigation team that a weapon was  seen.. The LAPD Force Investigation Division (FID) which investigates all officer-involved shootings has determined that Martinez had not fired a firearm and a gun was not found at the scene.

Both the FBI and LAPD are conducting separate investigations into the shooting death. The results from the LAPD investigation will be forwarded to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for review when completed.