Benito Martinez was 28 when he was fatally shot on January 13, 2015, at a birthday party in the 700 block of Oakley Avenue in Rockford, Illinois. Born January 16, 1986, in Mexia, Texas, he was described as someone with a ready sense of humor who could lighten a room. Tarina Mitchell, 22, was also killed in the same shooting; two other partygoers were wounded and survived.

The shooting unfolded during a violent altercation at the residential gathering. Police were called after reports of gunfire and opened an investigation, but no arrests were made immediately and the case remained open as detectives sought public leads. The killing was one of several homicides in Rockford in early 2015 that contributed to a violent start to the year.

If anyone who attended the January 13 party or who has information about the altercation or the shooters can help, please come forward.