Ana Martinez

Ana Martinez was a loving and positive 19-year-old Hispanic mother of two young children in San Antonio, Texas. Her family said she was very close to her siblings and put her family first. Her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Gonzales, said, “She has two beautiful kids that will no longer have her.”

On the morning of January 22, 2020, Ana was in an apartment at the Pecan Valley Apartments on East Southcross with at least five other people. According to police, her 22-year-old boyfriend, Jose Maria Galindo, was handling a handgun when it discharged, striking Ana in the head. One witness told investigators that just before the shooting, Ana had been sitting on the edge of her bed while Galindo stood in front of her. Police noted that the bullet was found low to the ground, which was consistent with a downward trajectory. Ana was rushed to a hospital, where she died from her injury.

Investigators reported that Galindo fled the apartment after the shooting and swapped vehicles in an attempt to evade law enforcement. He was arrested shortly afterward in LaSalle County on a warrant for manslaughter. The warrant had been issued based on witness statements and forensic evidence gathered at the scene.

The following month, in February 2020, a judge determined there was no probable cause to proceed with criminal charges against Jose Galindo. The judge's decision forced the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office to dismiss the manslaughter charge. Galindo, who had been held in jail, was subsequently slated for release.

The dismissal of the charge devastated Ana’s family. “It slapped us in the face. It’s wrong. The system is wrong,” said Irma Ramirez, a family member. In response, they organized a protest outside the Cadena Reeves Justice Center, started an online petition called 'Justice for Ana,' and held a barbecue fundraiser to cover funeral expenses. The family also made a public plea for anyone with information about Galindo’s past behavior to come forward, believing it might help their case. Her sister, Heaven Martinez, questioned the decision, asking, “How is there not enough evidence to keep him in jail if there is enough evidence to get the warrant out for his arrest?”

As of February 2020, the manslaughter charge against the only suspect in Ana Martinez's death had been dismissed. Her case remains unsolved.