Redwood City Shooting Case Ends With Prison Term For Suspect

EAST PALO ALTO, CA — An East Palo Alto man was sentenced Friday in a Redwood City courtroom to nine years in prison after he pleaded no contest to firing a gun into a business, among other charges, San Mateo County prosecutors said.

Anastacio Martinez, 41, was driving a red Pontiac at about 8 p.m. on March 6 when he barely missed another moving vehicle on Broadway in Redwood City. Martinez then was involved in a crash.

Prosecutors said police responded and saw Martinez with a gun in his hand. Martinez threw the gun when the officer approached him and then struggled with the officer as he was being detained.

Prosecutors said police found methamphetamine in Martinez's vehicle and that the gun was not loaded. But police found bullet holes in a nearby business and two bullet holes in the headrest of the Pontiac. Prosecutors said that acting on comments Martinez made after his arrest, narcotics agents decided to search his sister's home where he was living and they found a stolen Sig Sauer P220 handgun that was connected to him. Agents also found a box of ammunition that belonged to Martinez.

Martinez admitted to a prior felony strike conviction and a prior five-year felony conviction. He's currently in jail on $300,000 bail. Defense attorney Kevin Allen could not be reached for comment on the case.

— By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock