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Officer Involved Shooting Of Davisville Man Ruled Justified
March 13, 2019
The State Attorney’s Office has ruled the officer involved shooting of a Davisville man on January 26 was justified.
Robert C. “Bobby” Martin, 69, was shot inside his home by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
“[The deputy] believed he and the other Deputies were in imminent danger of harm or death. This belief was a reasonable,” Assistant State Attorney John Molchan wrote in his report. “The use of force…was reasonable and justifiable under Florida law and no criminal charges will be filed.”
Molchan described Martin as “armed and non-compliant”.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check about 8:35 p.m. at a home in the 10000 block of Highway 97, about one mile south of the Alabama state line. Martin’s wife said he had been drinking at a bar in Atmore until about 3 p.m., and he was belligerent and cursed at her. The wife spoke to her son in Tuscaloosa, and the son had two conversations with Martin about 8 p.m.
In those phone discussions, Martin stated “I’m going to finish her off” and “I wouldn’t waste a [expletive] bulled on her [expletive]“. While on the phone, the son heard Martin yelling at his wife, “I ought to blow you away [expletive]“. The son then called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
As three deputies entered the kitchen area with an island in the middle, Martin had a pistol The deputies ordered him to put the gun down and get away from it.
A supervisor arrived and attempted to diffuse the situation. Martin had his hand over the .45 caliber Derringer that was on the kitchen island. The supervisor drew his gun.
The supervisor advised a deputy to use his Taser on Martin, at which time Martin retrieved the gun and back up against a kitchen wall. Martin first pointed the gun down, but then he pointed up toward the deputies. The supervisor, in fear for his life, fired the three times, killing Martin. He was struck twice in the chest and once in the head.
The incident was not the first contact Martin had with law enforcement. In December 2018, he called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and reported that he had been shot in the head and robbed. After treatment and as the investigation continued, Martin admitted he had accidentally shot himself.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
2 Responses to “Officer Involved Shooting Of Davisville Man Ruled Justified”
So sad for the loss of life. But from all accounts it appears the deputies acted in the best interest of all involved and probably saved more lives by coming quickly and trying to diffuse the situation.
Prayers for all involved.
This is a very sad situation all the way around.
You had no choice on what you had to do – no matter what anyone says.
Had law enforcement not been called, I have no doubt that your mother would be dead and maybe others. I will continue to pray for all of you.
This had been going on for many years, just getting progressively worse. Eventually it would have ended with your mother being killed- so the right choice was made that night.