Teen Fugitive Nabbed In South Carolina Faces Murder Charge: DA Walsh

HAVERSTRAW, NY — A teenager who went on the lam following a fatal shooting in Rockland County has been charged with second degree murder in connection to the headline-grabbing homicide case.

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced on Thursday that Yandie Martinez, of Haverstraw, was arraigned on one count of murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree in connection to the July 1, homicide in the Village of Haverstraw.

Officers from the Town of Haverstraw Police Department responded to Fairmount Avenue and West Street after reports of shots fired. The first officers on the scene saw a vehicle that crashed into a parked car opposite and a victim slumped over inside of the vehicle.

Officers extricated the victim from the vehicle and saw that he had 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 taken to Nyack Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

On July 27, Martinez was taken into custody at 1:20 p.m. in Piedmont, South Carolina in a collaborative effort with members of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Apprehension Special Investigations Team (FASIT), the FBI-Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, and the FBI-Columbia Division.

"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," Walsh said. "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."

The defendant was remanded after the arraignment to Rockland County Jail.