Mother Of Man Killed In Shooting Speaks Out

Donna Hales-Hahn clutched tissues in her hand as she remembered her son, Michael Hahn. The 19-year-old was shot and killed in front of the Ramada Inn in Las Cruces early Monday.

“He was just a gentle giant. Everybody loved him,” Donna told ABC-7.

She said her son graduated from Oate High School last year and was in the welding program at the Doa Ana Community College.

“All his friends say they all looked up to him. He was always coming out to help them and do whatever he could. He always wanted to be the peacemaker of everything,” Donna said.

Bridget Varner, a friend of Michael’s, said that willingness to help may have gotten him involved in this mess. Varner said alleged shooter Jeremy Martinez’s 17-year-old girlfriend asked Michael for help after a series of heated arguments between the girl and Martinez.

“Some people should learn to get themselves out of the messes they’ve caused. She was in a bad situation, and he tried helping her,” Varner said.

ABC-7 discovered a police report from 2010 involving Martinez and his girlfriend. The report details a domestic disturbance at Oate High School when Martinez, then 20, said he was visiting his underage girlfriend. The report states the girl’s brother punched Martinez in the face because their family did not want the girl to date Martinez. Martinez did not fight back and was not charged with anything.

Varner said the girlfriend was in the car the night of the shooting. Police say Hahn, the girl, and three others drove to Martinez’s home south of Las Cruces. James Blankenship, 18, allegedly threw a cinder block through the back of Martinez’s car window and that’s what started it all.

Martinez allegedly came after the group with a 9mm gun, leading to a nearly five-mile car chase through the streets of Las Cruces with Martinez allegedly shooting at the group from his car.

Police said Hahn was driving his Chevy Impala and lost control in front of the Ramada Inn on South Valley Drive and University Avenue. Then everyone jumped out of their cars and started running.

Police said Martinez allegedly shot 19-year-old Policarpio Padilla, leaving Padilla with critical injuries. Padilla managed to run to the entrance of the hotel where he collapsed.

Police said then Martinez got in a physical fight with Hahn before allegedly shooting and killing Hahn in the middle of the street.

According to reports, Blankenship tackled Martinez to the ground and held him until police arrived.

Padilla is now in stable condition at the University Medical Center in El Paso. His father posted a Facebook update saying Padilla got out of surgery yesterday and is doing OK.

Martinez is charged with an open count of murder, one charge of attempted first-degree murder, and a charge of shooting at or from a motor vehicle.

As for Michael, his mother said he is gone but not forgotten.

“He was just a good kid. Gentlest heart, biggest heart there was around. A good kid that’s going to be missed by a lot of people,” Donna said.