Arrest Made In Beating Of Las Cruces Football Player

Dona Ana County Sheriff?s investigators made a huge break Friday night in solving the case involving Jerry Zamarripa, the Onate High School varsity football player now in the fight of his life.

Andrew Martinez, 24, is in custody for the severe beating of Zamarripa. Martinez is charged with two counts of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and one count of tampering with evidence.

Martinez was part of a group asked to leave a large party on Tammy Lane last weekend, investigators said. Zamarripa was helping escort Martinez out when Martinez began to beat Zamarripa to the point he became brain-dead, investigators said.

“Mr. Martinez retrieved a golf club from his vehicle which was parked out in front of the residence, struck Mr. Zamarripa once in the torso, which caused him to go down to the ground, and then Mr. Martinez struck him a second time in the head,? Lt. Michael Kinney, of the Dona Ana County Sheriff?s Office, said.

Almost a week after Martinez clubbed Zamarripa over the head with a nine iron, the varsity football player and model student remains in the hospital, clinging to life, investigators said.

If Zamarripa?s condition should worsen, investigators said, the case would be amended and Martinez would face murder charges.

Investigators said the two men actually know each other, but the extent of their relationship is not known at this time.

ABC-7 was also told Anthony Sena, who was stabbed at the same party, was released Friday from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Sena?s case still remains under investigation, authorities said.

Martinez is being held on $100,000 cash bond.

Investigators said they hope solving Zamarripa?s case as quickly as possible will now eliminate the potential for any further attempts at retaliation.