DEFENDANT IN HAVERSTRAW HOMICIDE ARRAIGNED ON MURDER AND WEAPONS CHARGES
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today that Yandie Martinez, 18, of Haverstraw, New York, was arraigned on one count of Murder in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree before the Honorable Anne B. Bianchi in connection with a July 1, 2024 homicide in the Village of Haverstraw.
On Monday July 1, 2024, officers from the Town of Haverstraw Police Department responded to the area of Fairmount Avenue and West Street in the Village of Haverstraw for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, units observed a vehicle that crashed into a parked car opposite of 9 Fairmount Avenue and an individual slumped over inside of the vehicle. Officers extricated the individual from the vehicle and observed him to have two gunshot wounds, one to the left arm and one to the left side of his chest which perforated his lung and heart. The victim was transported to Nyack Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
On July 27, 2024, Martinez was taken into custody at 1:20 pm in Piedmont, South Carolina in a collaborative effort with members of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Apprehension Special Investigations Team (FASIT), FBI-Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, and the FBI-Columbia Division.
District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II said, “Today’s arraignment marks the first step in the legal process to hold Yandie Martinez, the suspect in the July 1, 2024 homicide in the Village of Haverstraw fully accountable for his actions. My office is committed to seeking justice on behalf of the victim and his family. I commend the investigation by the Town of Haverstraw Police Department, with assistance from First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Lloyd and Supervising Assistant District Attorney Emily McNiff, and the supporting law enforcement agencies who detained the suspect in South Carolina. We will provide updates to the public as the legal process proceeds.” The defendant was remanded after the arraignment to Rockland County Jail.
The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Lloyd and Supervising Assistant District Attorney Emily McNiff.
It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Video of District Attorney Thomas Walsh commenting on the arraignment of Yandie Martinez.
