Crime & Safety

Father Of Teen Killed By Motorcyclist Faces Charges: St. Pete Police

The father of a boy who was killed by a motorcyclist was charged with attending an illegal street racing event, child neglect: SPPD

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The father of a boy who was killed by a motorcyclist going more than 100 mph was charged with attending an illegal street racing event, child neglect, St. Pete police said.
The father of a boy who was killed by a motorcyclist going more than 100 mph was charged with attending an illegal street racing event, child neglect, St. Pete police said. (Courtesy of St. Petersburg Police Department)

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The father of a 13-year-old boy who died after being hit by a motorcycle early Jan. 29 faces charges related to the incident, according to a St. Petersburg Police Department news release.

Johnny Julio Martin, 35, was charged with felony child neglect and street racing as a spectator, a moving violation citation.

The night of Jan. 28, Martin brought his son to an illegal street racing event on 28th Street N. near 110th Avenue N., police said.

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As Ethan Julio Martin crossed 28th Street N. early Jan. 29 around 12:30 a.m., he stepped into the path of a motorcycle going faster than 100 mph, according to SPPD.

The motorcyclist hit and killed the teen and also injured a bystander.

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The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are pending, police said.

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