Kin pays a special, heartbreaking tribute to the murdered young New York police officer, Alexis Martinez, who was killed by his own father
The broken relative of a 26-year-old police officer who was killed by his father in a suicide attempt paid a heartbreaking tribute to the victim at his funeral on Friday – while Mayor Eric Adams called the horror “one of the greatest Shakespearean tragedies”.
Officer Alexis Martinez’s dysfunctional family sat in the front row of a crowded St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Manhattan, wearing matching white T-shirts with a baseball player on the back – with angel wings – landing a punch.
Among the mourners was the St. Raymond County juvenile high school baseball team in their black and orange uniforms in honor of Martinez, a graduate and former standout who still played ball in an NYPD group.
“I am lost [at what] This is what I want to say to the City of New York at this time as we are once again witnessing the premature loss of one of our heroes at such a young age,” Mayor Adams told the crowd. “This is probably one of the greatest Shakespearean tragedies imaginable.”
Martinez was killed by his own father on August 3 while sleeping at his father’s home in Soundview.
According to police sources, the father, who fatally turned the gun on himself, was suffering from a mental illness.
One of the cop’s buddies spotted the grisly scene while checking on Martinez after he missed one of their baseball games.
Martinez was remembered Friday for his “life of ministry” and the positive contributions he made in his short life to the community in which he grew up.
The young policeman graduated from St Raymond High School for Boys in 2014 After helping lead the team to a city championship the year before, he had recently established a scholarship fund to help fund the current team’s spring training trip to Florida.
His former coach described Martinez as an incredible player who formed the core of the school’s championship team.
“As calm as he was, just with his smile he could really bring his team together,” said sporting director Benjamin Aguirre. “He came back of his own accord and wanted to set up a scholarship for our young people who go to Florida for spring training because he knew what St. Raymond’s was doing.”
One of the current team members, 17-year-old Marius Haughton, who attended the funeral in his St. Ray’s Ravens jersey, said Martinez was a “really cool man” who helped him and his family.
“The money gave me the opportunity to go to Florida and play baseball for my team. I am truly blessed to be in this position,” Marius said of the scholarship.
“With his pass, I feel like it’s another person I owe,” said the new senior, who has his sights set on pro ball.
“I’ll do it for him,” he swore.
NYPD Assistant Inspector Hipolito Gil said: “Alexis, I told you that great things are ahead of you like we have never seen in this department and you were well on your way.
“We are incredibly heartbroken.”
A group of nearly two dozen pipers and drummers played “Amazing Grace” while Martinez’s coffin — wrapped in an NYPD flag — was carried into the church in Upper Manhattan while more than 1,000 officers gathered outside.
The somber mood in the church was only broken when family and friends embraced before communion.
“We need to make a renewed commitment to dealing with mental health, we need to make a renewed commitment to our families, we need to make a renewed commitment to being a place where God rules,” said the mayor, to whom the newly appointed Police Commissioner Edward Caban and newly appointed Police Commissioner Edward Caban at the service added other first class NYPD brass.
“You have gained a family for the mother who lost a son. On behalf of the people of the City of New York, the Police Commissioner and the entire New York Police Department, we stand with you.”
