Taos shooting victim fights for life as police seek gunman

Doctors say man shot in head had shattered skull, lost an eye

TAOS — A man shot in the head at his home last week was fighting for his life at an Albuquerque hospital as investigators with the Taos Police Department and New Mexico State Police worked to identify the assailant.

Officers arrived at Randy Martinez’s residence on Gusdorf Place just after 1 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a call about the shooting, but by then the gunman had fled. Medics rushed the 56-yearold Martinez, who had been shot in the forehead, to Holy Cross Hospital in Taos before transferring him by helicopter to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, authorities said.

Martinez’s sister, Mary Chavez, the business manager for The Taos News, said Friday she had traveled with her family to be with her brother.

Doctors told the family that Martinez’s skull was shattered by the gunshot and that he had lost an eye, Chavez said.

On Friday evening, she said, medical teams were expected to try to remove a tracheal tube that had been helping Martinez breathe to see if he was capable of breathing on his own.

As Chavez awaited updates from the hospital, she also was anxious to hear from police about any breakthroughs in their investigation into her brother’s shooting.

“There’s still someone out there that’s dangerous,” Chavez said.

Investigators told her they believe the shooter had knocked on Martinez’s front door. When Martinez moved a curtain covering a window panel on the door, Chavez was told, the shooter fired through the glass,.

Police have obtained a description of a suspicious vehicle that was in the neighborhood during the shooting. However, they have not yet released any information about the vehicle or possible suspects.

“We do not wish to jeopardize the investigation,” said Taos police Chief David Trujillo.

Investigators with the state police Criminal Investigation Team joined local officers in an effort to process the crime scene Wednesday.

Although the crime scene has since been cleared, Trujillo said investigators have been working 24/7 to follow up on leads.

“Possible suspects and names of suspects are being considered,” Trujillo said, “It’s a process of elimination.”

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call the Taos Police Department at 575-758-4656 or Taos County Crime Stoppers at 575-758-4258.

This story first appeared on the website of The Taos News, a sister publication of the Santa Fe New Mexican.