Friends remember fallen Chicago police Officer Enrique Martinez for laugh, sense of service

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The man charged with murdering Chicago police Officer Enrique Martinez, 26, appeared in court Thursday.

Darion McMillian, 23, of Harvey, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder. unlawful use of a weapon and more. He was ordered by a judge to remain in custody.

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Those who knew and loved the fallen officer are speaking out.

His family left the Cook County courtroom tearfully Thursday, after hearing more details about the deadly shooting.

Martinez's brother, who is an officer, was among dozens of other CPD officers in attendance.

"They became part of a big family that nobody really wants to be a part of, but here we are," Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara said.

A Cook County prosecutor told the judge that McMillian poses a danger to the public.

In court, the prosecutor said Officer Martinez and his partner saw a vehicle double-parked, with broken taillights and fraudulent registration, and within moments of walking up to the vehicle, McMillian allegedly fired a weapon

"The defendant then drew a 40-caliber firearm equipped with a fully automatic switch from his backpack and fired numerous shots toward officer Martínez and victim three," Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Anne McCord said.

Victim three was the driver.

The prosecutor alleges McMillian pushed the driver out of the car and put the car in reverse, dragging another officer with the car.

At a Thursday night vigil, friends, family and neighbors poured out their grief and tried to life up his family in this moment of tragedy.

"He was there countless times for other people, so I feel like we owe it to him to kind of pick him up and his family," said Carlos Martinez, attendee.

The vigil followed a mass at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in West Lawn where the officer was known, respected and loved.

"He was such an amazing person, big smile with his friends and would light up the room," said attendee Francisco Gutierrez.

Martinez attended grade school at St. Nicholas and then graduated from nearby Hubbard High School. Blue ribbons now grace the campus in his honor.

"Seeing him in the hallways, the smile on face, a true leader, always volunteering," said Hubbard Principal Angelica Altamirano.

At Hubbard, Martinez was in the Junior ROTC program and commanded the drum and bugle corps. There are now plans to name a drill hall in his honor .

"That he went into the field of service as a police officer just made me even more proud of him," said band director Bryan Espinoza.

CPD Officer Carlos Yañez was also in court Thursday. He was left with permanent injuries after a traffic stop in which Officer Ella French was fatally shot.

"I'm seeing the families come in there, and it's heartbreaking, just heartbreaking. I can't put into words how hard it is. It's just terrible," he said. "I know what these officers are going through, the family. My wife and I cry about it all the time; we been praying for the families."

Some very close school friends of Martinez said his charismatic personality and his sense of service will never be forgotten.

"It's still a little bit of a shock," said CPD Officer Andres Naranjo, Officer Martinez's close friend. "It's like a pendulum."

Officer Naranjo said he's in a complex state of disbelief days after he lost who he describes as his best friend in the line of duty, Officer Martinez.

"There are times that I don't believe what has happened, and there are other moments where I realize it has happened," Naranjo said.

Martinez, who was just shy of three years on the job, Naranjo and another close friend, Marisa Galvan, grew up at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, the small, tightly knit Catholic grade school on West 62nd Street, where they graduated eighth grade in 2012.

"From kindergarten up until eighth grade, we attended St. Nicholas," Galvan said. "To me, he will go down as the most hilarious person I've ever known in my entire life."

While looking back at Martinez's old school photos, in yearbooks, Galvan said it's his laugh that will stay with her forever.

"Never take life too seriously," Galvan said. "I know every time I laugh now, it won't be the same."

Naranjo said Martinez was the best man at his wedding. The two were also bonded by their unified desire to serve the city as Chicago police officers.

"We both kind of grew up saying we want to be police officers," Naranjo said. "We want to be able to help others. It was just who we are; it's who he was."

Officer Martinez died in the line of duty Monday night during a traffic stop near 80th Street and Ingleside Avenue.

Police said McMillian shot and killed Martinez and the driver of the car he was in before the Harvey man was arrested later that evening.

Now, at St. Nicholas, a small memorial rests on the front wall of the school the young officer attended as a tribute to his selfless service.

"We are a strong family," Principal Mariagnes Menden said. "We lean on each other; we are there for each other."

Menden said his energy and sense of service at the school will never be forgotten.

"He was brave, and he really saw the other, and he really wanted to make everything better for them," Menden said.

A GoFundMe has ben started to collect donations for the Martinez family.

Chicago police said Officer Martinez and his partner approached a car that was blocking traffic Monday night when McMillian in the passenger seat reached for a bag on the floor, ignoring police commands and pulled out a fully automatic handgun.

CPD said McMillian shot and killed Officer Martinez along with the car's driver in a barrage of gunfire.

READ ALSO | Community mourns young CPD officer killed in line of duty

Police allege McMillian dragged Martinez's partner, who fired a single shot into the ground.

On Wednesday afternoon CPD announced charges after Officer Enrique Martinez was killed in the line of duty Monday night.

CPD said McMillian then crashed into a woman's first-floor apartment on the next block and used a knife he found to cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet before trying to run away and being arrested by police.

Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke Wednesday during a police news conference.

"Officer Martinez saved lives even though he knew it could cost him his own," Johnson said.

Will County court documents show McMillian tried to "...defeat a drug screening test..." two months ago, a non-detainable offense under the SAFE-T Act.

That's why a judge ordered McMillian to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet he allegedly cut off.

Documents also show McMillian was released from prison last July after serving more than three years on a separate aggravated discharge of a firearm charge.

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