Police Search for Clues in Shooting Death of a Dad Who Saved Son's Life

Police are asking the public to help identify suspects involved in an Inglewood shooting that left a 28-year-old father dead after he shielded his 8-year-old son from the barrage of bullets.

Fredrick Martin and his son, Tre, were in front of their garage Tuesday night when gunfire broke out in the 3200 block of W. 109th Street, police said.

When he heard the shots, the elder Martin pushed his son to the ground and covered him with his body. Martin suffered gunshot wounds to his abdomen and upper torso and later died at the hospital.

"The investigation is not going well," Lt. James Madia with Inglewood police said, adding that detectives are working on a few conflicting descriptions of the possible suspects and their cars.

Martin’s son, who shared a home with his father, mother and grandmother, suffered only a minor graze wound, Madia said.

Martin's wife Amanda is five months pregnant, according to a family friend.

About two dozen friends and family mourned Martin near his home Friday night.

"We know that there was an ultimate sacrifice made on the other night," one said during a prayer.

On Tuesday, another man, 29-year-old Joseph Hickman, suffered minor injuries when he was shot in the ankle.

The shooting that killed Martin was one of three unrelated instances in the area that night, police said. Shortly after 10 p.m., officers arrived to find a car crash and a shooting victim in the 3500 block of Victoria Street.

About one hour later, a 31-year-old man was shot in both legs in the 500 block of N. Marlborough.

Police do not have suspect descriptions for any of these shootings.

Detectives are urging anyone with information on these incidents to contact the Inglewood Police Homicide Section at 310-412-5246, or anonymously at 888-412-7463.

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