17-Year-Old Arrested in Fatal Shooting of 12-Year-Old Rodrigo Emiliano Martinez at Compton Park
COMPTON, Calif. – A heartbreaking act of violence has shaken the Compton community following the tragic death of 12-year-old Rodrigo Emiliano Martinez, who was fatally shot at Fig/Oleander Park on Friday afternoon. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) confirmed Sunday that a 17-year-old male suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing.
According to officials, gunfire erupted just before 4 p.m. on Friday, May 9, at Oleander Park, a public gathering space near the intersection of East 130th Street and Willowbrook Avenue. Witnesses reported chaos and panic after a person clad in all-black clothing and wearing a ski mask approached the park on foot and opened fire on the young boy, then fled the scene before authorities arrived.
Responding deputies from LASD located Rodrigo Emiliano Martinez suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The 12-year-old was transported to a nearby hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The identity of the arrested suspect has not been released due to his age, but the 17-year-old is facing a murder charge, according to a release from the sheriff’s department. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the motive behind the shooting, and investigators continue to piece together what led to such a devastating act of violence involving two teenagers.
The name of the victim, Rodrigo Emiliano Martinez, was confirmed by local sources, and a growing number of tributes have emerged online and in the community. Friends and family remember Rodrigo as a kind and curious child, loved by many and taken far too soon.
Residents have expressed outrage and sorrow, with many calling for increased safety measures at local parks and public spaces. “A child should be able to go to the park and feel safe,” one community member said. “This is a tragedy that should never have happened.”
The LASD Homicide Bureau is continuing its investigation and is urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has relevant information to come forward. Authorities believe additional witnesses may have seen the suspect flee or have video footage that could aid the case.
Those with information are encouraged to contact LASD’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a young life, and questions loom over how such violence can be prevented in the future.