Martin indicted on murder charge
Trish ChoateA Wichita Falls man has been indicted on a murder charge in connection with the shooting death of Martin Jones, according to court documents.
Noel Ramirez Martin, who told police he fired in self-defense, was being held Tuesday in the Wichita County Law Enforcement Center on $1.1 million in bonds for charges connected to Jones' death last year, according to online jail and court records.
A Wichita County grand jury handed down a two-count indictment Wednesday against Noel Martin for charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to court documents.
Murder carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Noel Martin, 33, is suspected of shooting Jones in the 100 block of Evergreen Drive during an argument over accusations that Noel Martin had damaged the other man's property, according to allegations in court documents.
Wichita Falls police responded about 6:44 p.m. Oct. 9 to a home there after reports of gunshots and they found Martin Jones shot in the abdomen, according to allegations in court documents.
He was transported to United Regional Health Care System Oct. 9 for treatment and succumbed to his wounds Oct. 13 at URHCS, according to court documents.
More:Arrest affidavit sheds new light on shooting
Noel Martin told police Jones ran at him, and he felt his own life and his family members' lives were in danger, so he fired two shots, according to allegations in court documents.
The shooting was the culmination of an ongoing feud between the two neighbors, according to allegations in court documents.
About 3:38 p.m. Oct. 9, police responded to a home in the 100 block of Evergreen, taking Jones' report of criminal mischief, according to allegations in court documents. Martin Jones alleged Noel Martin had busted out most of the windows in his car.
Noel Martin told police he was not at home when the incident happened, according to court records.
He is charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief of $750 to $2,500 in connection with the earlier report Oct. 9, court documents show.
The misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
More:Martin charged after shooting victim dies in hospital
Noel Martin is also charged with felony possession of between 1 and 4 grams of methamphetamine in connection with an Oct. 12 incident, according to court documents.
The offense is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
His bail for the drug possession charge and the criminal mischief charge is a total of $7,500, according to online jail records.