NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – Markquette Martin’s family say they are angry about how little information there is about their son’s death.
Martin died on Wednesday while running away from officers. Police say he shot himself in what is described as a ‘probably unintentional’ shooting.
Read more: Police: Man dies from ‘probably accidental’ self-inflicted shooting while on the run from cops
“I feel like any other father who loses a child. It’s like it ripped my heart out, ” said Markquette Gray, Martin’s father.
Gray was standing just a few feet from where Martin died when he spoke to NewsChannel 5 about the incident on Thursday. He has heard the Metro Nashville police report on the incident, but compared to what his neighbors have told him in recent hours, he says he has no clear answers.
Police say a neighbor assaulted two officers to report that a man in a blue “bubble” coat and hat had a gun and was not allowed to have one. Officers say they found a person who matched the description, but when they asked to speak, he ran away. The man was later identified as Martin.
Officials said Martin shot himself while on the run from cops – something they think was “probably unintentional.” MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron said, “maybe he had his finger on the trigger guard and the gun was released during the running movements”
Gray said his son was not suicidal and therefore could not have pointed the gun at himself.
Metro Police officials released a surveillance video of the incident from the MDHA video system, but that video pauses for the entire time. Regarding the video, police said that “the MDHA video system does not record continuously. The” freezes “in the video comes from the system itself.”
Read more: Fatal shootings in South Nashville are still under investigation
Gray has seen videos shared on social media, and he and his family believe someone out there knows exactly what happened
‘I come from here, born and raised. Very loyal to many people around here; so I know no doubt they’ll get through, ”Gray said.
Subway police say they found a used bullet shell on the spot and early indications are that they came from a gun carried by Martin. According to police officials, preliminary autopsy information shows that Martin died of a single gunshot wound that came through the right side of the head and came out through the left side, but the manner of death (suicide or accidental) is still under investigation. MNPD also performs the ballistics on the bullet and housing found on the ground.
Martin’s mother Lenieshia Woods says this is just an attempt to cover up what happened to her son and that she won’t accept it.
‘I don’t want to keep seeing things slip under the rug like everything else around here. I want what happened to my son to be noticed and let everyone know it’s not right, ”Woods said.
Woods says she asks neighbors to bring their own video or photos to their family church at Saint Luke Primitive Baptist in Nashville.
Video or photos can be sent to the email below:
Saint Luke Primitive Baptist Church
Pastor Nicholas Patterson – [email protected]