We would like to thank First Sergeant Nicholas Taylor for sharing this special story with us. 1SG Taylor’s Detachment Commander CW2 Antonio Martin recently received the LAPD Medal of Valor for his civilian career. 1SG Taylor said, “CW2 Martin consistently steps up in the military and this shows how he also steps up for the citizens of Los Angeles. He currently serves his community as a Sergeant with the LAPD and as a CID Agent for the Army consistently doing what has to be be done for his community and for the Army.”
Below is the brief of CW2 Martin’s heroic actions:
In the early evening hours of April 2, 2008, Operations-South Bureau Gang Enforcement Detail (GED) Officers John Carlyle, Antonio Martin, David Phillips, and Brandon Valdez were conducting an operation in the Harbor Area to locate and apprehend a suspect wanted for making criminal threats against police officers. The suspect was currently out on bail awaiting trial for criminal threats; however, given the potential threat he posed to the community, a judge revoked his previous bail and issued an arrest warrant.
The suspect was a documented Eastside Wilmas gang member who sought revenge for an officer involved shooting that occurred the previous month with a fellow Eastside Wilmas gang member. The officers were told that the suspect was also being charged with a carjacking that happened two years prior. Additionally, the suspect had been seen with a blue steel revolver and was looking to obtain an AK-47 to kill a Los Angeles Police Officer.
Plain clothes officers in an unmarked police vehicle responded to the suspect’s residence where they observed him enter the driver’s side of a vehicle. The officers also observed two female passengers in the car. They broadcast the information to the designated uniformed chase team. Carlyle and Phillips responded to the alley, began following the suspect, and requested backup. Martin and Valdez responded to the backup request, and Carlyle activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop.
The suspect refused to stop, accelerated, and a pursuit ensued. He started to negotiate a left turn, then decelerated, and attempted a right turn. Carlyle unintentionally collided with the suspect’s vehicle, causing it to spin clockwise. The suspect tried to accelerate, but the secondary police vehicle blocked his path. The suspect exited the vehicle and pointed a handgun in Martin’s direction.
Fearing he was about to be shot, Martin opened his door, drew his service pistol, and fired two rounds at the suspect. Simultaneously, the suspect fired two shots at Martin, striking him on the left chest under his badge. Martin fell to the ground and as the suspect approached him, he attempted to get up and fired one to two more rounds at the suspect. Valdez saw Martin fall to the ground and shot at the suspect once. At the same time, Phillips exited his police vehicle, took cover by the suspect’s vehicle, and upon observing the suspect shoot at Martin, fired three rounds at the suspect. Carlyle, fearing Martin and Valdez were going to be killed, fired three to four rounds at the suspect as well.
Meanwhile, Harbor Division Vice Officer Nicholas Sysak and his partner heard the pursuit and responded in case they needed to set up a perimeter. As they approached the area, they observed the suspect shooting at the officers. Believing the officers were in danger of being shot and killed, Sysak negotiated a left turn and intentionally struck the suspect with his unmarked police vehicle. The collision caused the suspect to lose his grasp of the pistol and fall to the ground. The pistol crashed through the windshield of Sysak’s car. While Sysak’s decision to drive directly into a gun battle was unorthodox, it was instrumental in disarming the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody and pronounced dead at the scene.
It was later discovered Officer Martin’s United States Marine Corp pin, which he wore on the top left corner of his left shirt pocket, received a direct hit from the round fired by the suspect. The pin caused the bullet to slow, greatly reducing the severity of his injury. He was treated for injuries and released from the hospital