Nehemiah Martin

Nehemiah Martin Sr. was a 25-year-old Black man who worked as a mechanic and on houses in Gary, Indiana. Described by his family as a very loving person with a smile that could light up a room, he was above all the proud father of three young children.

On the evening of May 7, 2022, Nehemiah was in a minivan with his fiancée, Selena Saenz, and their three children, who were ages three, two, and 17 months. Selena was driving east on 17th Avenue around 6 p.m. after they had picked up takeout food. Suddenly, another car pulled up alongside them. The driver gave Selena a "dirty look" and then opened fire on the minivan. Nehemiah was struck by multiple bullets, including one to the back of the head. He fell from the vehicle and, despite paramedics’ efforts, was pronounced dead at the scene. In the chaos, his 17-month-old son was also shot in the arm, an injury his mother discovered hours later. The two other children were not physically harmed.

The investigation began at the chaotic scene near 17th and Tyler Street. A crucial lead emerged the next day when one of Nehemiah’s sisters, Tyronda Martin, returned to a nearby gas station and overheard people say the shooter’s name was "Terry." She searched for "Terry" in "Gary" on Facebook and sent a screenshot of a profile to Selena and another sister, Tyeshia Mahone, who had also witnessed the shooter’s car speeding away. Both women immediately identified the man in the photo as the assailant. They later confirmed his identity by picking Terry Horton from a formal police photo lineup. Horton was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, and two firearm enhancements.

During his trial, prosecutors built their case around the powerful eyewitness testimony of Selena Saenz and Tyeshia Mahone. The defense attorney, Brandon Hicks, argued that police had "crowdsourced" their suspect based on a rumor and highlighted the lack of physical evidence, as neither the murder weapon nor the shooter's car was ever recovered. During the trial, prosecutors dropped the attempted murder charge on technical grounds. Horton, who maintained he was with a relative at the time of the shooting, did not testify.

On January 15, 2025, after deliberating for nearly five hours, a jury found Terry Horton guilty of murder and a firearm enhancement. At his sentencing hearing, Selena Saenz told the court that Horton "took the colors of life with him" and that she now lives in "black and white," with children left traumatized by the loss of their father. Horton addressed Saenz, stating he was sorry for her loss but insisting he was the wrong man. Judge Samuel Cappas, noting the jury's verdict, sentenced Terry Horton to 75 years in prison. The case was concluded as of Horton's sentencing in February 2025.