Martin Valdivia

Martin Valdivia, a 37-year-old Hispanic man, was a resident of Columbus, Ohio. In the wake of his death, a family member organized a fundraiser to help cover the costs of his funeral service.

Late on the night of October 30, 2024, an altercation at an apartment complex on the city's Far West Side turned fatal. At approximately 11:15 p.m., Columbus police received a call reporting gunshots in the 5600 block of Cabot Cove Drive, followed by a second call from someone who saw a person lying on the ground. When officers arrived at the Cabot Cove Apartments, they found Martin Valdivia outside one of the buildings. He was suffering from at least one gunshot wound and died at the scene.

Homicide detectives determined that Valdivia was shot following a dispute with another man. According to investigators, the two men knew each other. Officers located 36-year-old Jose Daniel Guzman-Castaneda near the scene and arrested him without incident. A firearm was also recovered. Guzman-Castaneda was subsequently charged with murder in connection with Valdivia’s death.

On February 26, 2026, Jose Guzman Castaneda pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeff Brown sentenced him to serve 12 to 16½ years in prison. The case was closed with this conviction in February 2026.