One Day After Arrest Made In His Beating, Las Cruces Teen Dies

Updated Feb. 26, 2011 afternoon: The Las Cruces teen who was brutally beaten outside a house party last weekend died Saturday afternoon, according to the Dona Ana County District Attorney.

Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 24-year-old Andrew Martinez Friday in connection with the assault of Onate High School student and football player Jerry Zamarripa. Martinez will now be charged with murder, District Attorney Amy Orlando said on Saturday. Martinez has already been charged with aggravated battery and tampering with evidence.

Zamarripa had been on life support and brain dead at an El Paso hospital since early Sunday morning, Feb. 20.

Zamarripa’s beating on Sunday at a house party just outside Las Cruces led to four individuals, who called themselves his friends, trying to avenge his death but ending up shooting the wrong man, according to Dona Ana Sheriff’s officials.

Zamarripa was helping escort Martinez and a large group out of the large house party when Martinez allegedly 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.

Sheriff’s officials said four individuals – Aaron Valdivia, 23, Homero Avalos, 19, Myles Calderon, 17, and the alleged shooter, Johnny Ray Vallejos, 16 – decided to go after who they thought was responsible for Zamarriapa’s beating. The four have all been charged with murder in the shooting death of 57-year-old Julian Pena.

Deputies say Pena had nothing to do with the attack on Zamarripa and that it was a case of mistaken identity.

“Jerry wasn’t the type of a bully.He was a calm guy. He was a good athlete,” said Zamarripa family friend, Pastor Hector Vega.

He said Zamarripa wasn’t involved in last weekend’s fight, he was an innocent bystander.

Vega said revenge is never the right the answer and has now lead to more heartache.

“Just let the authorities take over. Don’t do the mistake,” said Vega.

A mistake Pena’s family has been forced to deal with.

“He wouldn’t hurt anyone, wouldn’t wish hurt on anyone,” said Julian Pena Jr.

He is the victim’s oldest son. Pena said his dad retired from the Army and was keeping busy these days as a sales associate at a local Walmart.

“He would smile and say hello to everyone he met,” Pena said. “He pretty much was always happy and loved everyone.”

Pena told ABC-7 he is angry about his father’s death, but had nothing to say about those accused of killing him and just wanted to move on.

Meanwhile, Vega said Friday he and Zamarrripa’s fammily still held out hope for a miracle because he said the swelling in Zamarripa’s brain had gone down and there was some brain activity.

To help defray the families’ medical expenses, an account has also been set up at Citizen’s Bank to help pay for medical expenses, under account number 0123516806, in Zamarripa’s name.

Saturday evening, donation jars will be set up at the ticket counters at the varsity basketball game at the high school, 5700 Mesa Grande Drive. A candlelight vigil will follow the game.

For more information, call (575) 527-9430

Related Link: 4 Charged With Murder In Alleged Mistaken Identity Revenge Shooting