Man in custody to face several charges after firing shots, causing shelter-in-place order

TOOELE, Utah — A man is in police custody after firing over 20 shots at police and neighboring houses Thursday.

The man was identified as Marcus Martinez by a probable cause statement. Martinez will face charges of a felony committed while on probation or parole.

Man in custody, shelter in place lifted in Tooele neighborhood

According to the probable cause statement, police were dispatched to the area of South Elk Meadow Loop on a report of lewdness.

The reporting party was a family member of the man and said they were worried he would shoot someone.

The family member later reported being choked by Martinez.

Upon arrival, police were told “two male individuals/witnesses advised that Mr. Martinez pointed an assault rifle directly at them when he was standing in the middle of the roadway while they were driving in front of the home.”

Officers began staging in the area and Martinez began shooting his assault rifle. SWAT responded and Martinez fired “an excess of 20 rounds over officers’ heads and in the direction of homes that were in the area.”

The act triggered a shelter-in-place order for the area until the situation was resolved peacefully hours later.

UPDATE:
The situation in the Deer Hollow/Elk Meadow Loop neighborhood in Tooele City is all clear. The area has been reopened and those who live in the area are able to return home. The situation was resolved peacefully. There is no further threat to the public.

— Tooele City (@TooeleCity) December 8, 2022

Martinez has a criminal history and is a convicted felon, and should not be in possession of firearms.

Martinez will likely face multiple charges including three counts of aggravated assault, illegal discharge of a firearm, felony discharge of a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, and reckless endangerment.