A teenage murder suspect was seen blowing kisses in court as he faces charges in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend’s stepfather.
Christian Martinez, 17, is accused of killing Osvaldo Casas, 37, outside his home in Houston on August 10.
Investigators found Casas around 12:25 that day with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead in the arms of his pregnant wife. KHOU reports.
A subsequent investigation found that Martinez had been harassing Casas’ 16-year-old stepdaughter and that Casas was apparently trying to intervene when he was shot.
Martinez, charged with first-degree felony murder, made his first court appearance Monday, where he was seen blowing kisses after his bail was dramatically increased from $200,000 to $2 million.
Christian Martinez, 17, was seen blowing kisses while facing charges in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend’s stepfather.
Osvaldo Casas, 37, was found outside his Houston home with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead in the arms of his pregnant wife.
Authorities say Casas went out to check a suspicious vehicle on the morning of Aug. 10, and his wife, Judith Molina, said they received a call from a neighbor about a suspicious vehicle on the street.
He said they were on high alert because their vehicle had been vandalized the night before. Click on 2 reports from Houston.
That’s when Martinez allegedly shot Casas, investigators say.
“The allegations are that the 17-year-old defendant briefly dated the complaining witness’ (Casas) 16-year-old daughter,” a judge said at a previous court appearance.
‘The daughter stopped seeing this defendant after he assaulted her and illegally restrained her.
“The defendant repeatedly called the daughter until she blocked the defendant’s phone number.”
Martínez’s bail increased Monday from $200,000 to $2 million
Martinez also allegedly posted threats on social media, including a photo of himself holding a gun.
“The defendant sent messages to his friends, posted on social media that he wanted revenge on the daughter and left a voicemail saying he would shoot up the daughter’s crib,” the judge said. according to ABC 13.
But Molina, who gave birth to her baby less than two weeks after Casas’ death, claimed that her daughter and Martínez never dated.
‘He was just angry because she didn’t want to go out with him. That she didn’t want to do anything with him,’ Molina told KHOU.
“I hope he gets what he deserves: life in prison,” he added. ‘He took his life. He should spend the rest of his life in prison. I shouldn’t let him out.
Martinez was remembered as “a man of deep love and kindness” who “was loved by many in our community and never hesitated to lend a hand.”
An investigation found that Martinez had been harassing Casas’ 16-year-old stepdaughter and Casas was apparently trying to intervene when he was shot.
She he wrote in an online fundraiser. that Casas’ was tragically shot to death in front of our home while bravely protecting our family.
“Osvaldo was a man of deep love and kindness,” Molina wrote. “He was loved by many in our community and never hesitated to lend a hand.”
In an update on Monday, the devastated mother also wrote that any future donations will be used for the care of her newborn son “and possibly also for moving as my daughter is being harassed by the killer’s friends.”
As of Tuesday, GoFundMe had raised more than $28,500 for the family.
Meanwhile, police continue to search for a second suspect who was involved in the shooting and are asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.