Skip to content
NOWCAST KOAT Action 7 News at 10pm
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Chimayo massacre victim remembered

Rio Arriba County sheriff's offices dedicated to Jerry Martinez

A tragic day in a small New Mexico town was remembered Monday.
A tragic day in a small New Mexico town was remembered Monday.
Advertisement
Chimayo massacre victim remembered
Rio Arriba County sheriff's offices dedicated to Jerry Martinez
A tragic day in a small New Mexico town was remembered Monday.On January 26, 1991, Ricky Abeyta shot and killed state police officer Gleb Huber, Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Deputy Jerry Martinez and five others, including a 6-month-old baby.Huber and Martinez were trying to serve a restraining order when Abeyta opened fire. Abeyta was convicted of the murders and is serving a 146-year sentence.On Monday, 24 years after the massacre, Martinez was honored. The sheriff's department retired his badge and dedicated the sheriff's office building in his honor.Molly Martinez, Jerry's mother, was at the ceremony. She said it was time for closure."It's been a long time coming, but it's time to let go a little bit, yes," she said."We wanted to honor (Jerry Martinez's) memory," Sheriff James Lujan said. "It hadn't been done in so long, I was afraid people may have forgotten, but it's not true-- people remember."Lujan said he was working the day of the massacre, but most deputies now serving Rio Arriba were not on the force 24 years ago. A sticker with Martinez's name and badge will be placed on the left side of all the department's vehicles.

A tragic day in a small New Mexico town was remembered Monday.

On January 26, 1991, Ricky Abeyta shot and killed state police officer Gleb Huber, Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Deputy Jerry Martinez and five others, including a 6-month-old baby.

Advertisement

Huber and Martinez were trying to serve a restraining order when Abeyta opened fire. Abeyta was convicted of the murders and is serving a 146-year sentence.

On Monday, 24 years after the massacre, Martinez was honored. The sheriff's department retired his badge and dedicated the sheriff's office building in his honor.

Molly Martinez, Jerry's mother, was at the ceremony. She said it was time for closure.

"It's been a long time coming, but it's time to let go a little bit, yes," she said.

"We wanted to honor (Jerry Martinez's) memory," Sheriff James Lujan said. "It hadn't been done in so long, I was afraid people may have forgotten, but it's not true-- people remember."

Lujan said he was working the day of the massacre, but most deputies now serving Rio Arriba were not on the force 24 years ago. A sticker with Martinez's name and badge will be placed on the left side of all the department's vehicles.