Michael Martinez, 23, of West Palm Beach was shot and killed on March 15, 2021, around 2 a.m. at a residence on Lake Crystal Drive. The shooting happened during an apparent dispute over a gold watch; five people were in the home and two individuals were shot, with Martinez fatally wounded two days before his 24th birthday.

Investigators say the dispute began with accusations of theft and personal grievances. Antonio Ferguson, 41, of the Belle Glade area, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Witnesses reported Ferguson accused Martinez of stealing a gold watch and of making inappropriate advances toward Ferguson’s wife. Reports also note a prior altercation earlier in March in which Martinez was reportedly injured.

Security footage and text messages figured in the investigation: footage showed a visitor leaving the residence and entering a silver car shortly before the shooting, and texts between Ferguson and that visitor indicated Ferguson knew Martinez was wearing the disputed watch. Cell phone location data placed Ferguson near the scene; he had been arrested on unrelated drug-possession charges in Clewiston in late March, and law enforcement obtained his phone during that arrest.