HOUSTON – Police say a murder suspect is dead after he killed himself during a SWAT standoff at a house in the Heights on Saturday.
Police said Diego Martinez, 42, barricaded himself inside an acquaintance’s home on W. 27th Street near N. Durham. around 12 p.m.
SWAT officers responded to the scene and tried to talk him out, but he shot himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police, the acquaintance had no idea Martinez was wanted for murder. Martinez was also trying to hitch a ride and flee the country to Mexico.
Martinez was accused of shooting and killing his wife, 42-year-old Martha Nava De Martinez, and her male friend, 31-year-old Omar Salazar, inside her house in northwest Houston on Friday.
That shooting happened on Yellow Pine near Woodland Oaks.
Police said Martinez, arrived home from work around 7:20 a.m. Friday and found his wife and Salazar, inside. The two were clothed, but Diego Martinez went into a jealous rage and opened fire, according to HPD Sgt. Colin Howard.
The Martinez’s three children—ages 20, 19 and 13 -- were home at the time and witnessed the entire event, police said.
They tried to detain their father after the shooting, but he broke free and fled in a black Ford F-150.
Police said Diego Martinez had a criminal history. In fact, he was released from jail just two weeks ago, following an arrest on charges of injury to a child for allegedly punching a girl under the age of 15 in the chest.
