Chris Martinez Allegedly Killed Cliff Wilson While Parents Slept Nearby (45)

Aurora police have announced the arrest of Christopher Martinez, 34, in the April 1 murder of Clifford Wilson, 33. Not that Martinez was in Aurora when he was fitted with cuffs. He was taken into custody in Weld County. As for what happened, the working theory at this point is...

By Michael Roberts

April 8, 2015

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Aurora police have announced the arrest of Christopher Martinez, 34, in the April 1 murder of Clifford Wilson, 33.

Not that Martinez was in Aurora when he was fitted with cuffs. He was taken into custody in Weld County.

As for what happened on the 1st, the working theory at this point is that Martinez and Wilson got into an argument that led to gunfire ringing out as Wilson's elderly parents slept nearby.

At approximately 2:16 a.m. on April 1, according to the Aurora Police Department, officers were dispatched on a report of shots fired. The address: 18967 East Mercer Drive, a home captured in the following interactive graphic. If you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map."

Upon their arrival, the cops found Wilson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the APD confirmed that Wilson knew his attacker.

The implication: Police had a pretty good idea about the suspect's identity from the jump.

As for Wilson, Fox31 reports that he had a criminal record, albeit a fairly minor one.

The most recent charge against him was robbery, but it was dismissed last year.

While speaking with the station, a neighbor raised concerns about Wilson.

He said a lot of people came and went from the house at all hours, playing loud music.

But one of Wilson's friends painted a more benign portrait.

The man noted that Wilson sold cars on Craigslist, and while he may have looked intimidating, he was actually a good, straight-forward, honest person.

In the days that followed, the manhunt for Wilson's killer continued, with Crime Stoppers offering a reward for information about his whereabouts.

Then came a break in the case.

The APD reveals that Martinez was arrested in Wattenberg, Colorado by members of the Weld County Sheriff's Office, at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday, April 6.

He's being held on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Look below to see a Fox31 report broadcast prior the Martinez bust.

That's followed by Martinez's booking photo.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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