VISALIA, CALIFORNIA – A 16-year-old boy faces charges related to the killing of a beloved middle-school teacher during a burglary in central California last year. Sergio Martin, a 50-year-old teacher at the Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in his Dinuba home on November 6, 2023.
At the time of the incident, police initially classified the shooting as a random act of violence. They confirmed that the suspect was not a former student of Martin’s. The teenager has been charged with murder and burglary, among other offenses, according to the Tulare County District Attorney.
Due to being 15 at the time of the killing, California law dictates that the boy will be tried as a juvenile. If convicted, he can only be held in custody until the age of 25. In addition to the teenager, two young adults, Jorge Arrieta, 21, and Joseph Garcia, 20, were also charged in connection to the burglary.
Arrieta is facing charges of second-degree burglary and accessory, while also being accused of possessing stolen property. Martin, who taught Spanish at El Monte Middle School for 17 years, had a deep passion for vinyl records and the Los Angeles Dodgers. His colleagues and students expressed their grief by leaving heartfelt notes and pictures outside his classroom.
Friends and loved ones described Martin as a caring individual who deeply impacted those around him. Emilio Botello, a close friend, highlighted Martin’s dedication to his parents, students, and his love for his vinyl record collection. The community remains in mourning over the loss of a cherished teacher.
As the legal proceedings against the individuals involved continue, the memory of Sergio Martin lives on through the lives he touched and the lasting impact he made on those who knew him.