Getaway driver sentenced to 10 years in connection with 2021 shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role as a getaway driver in a shooting carried out by his twin brother, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office on Friday announced.

Officials said 52-year-old brothers Luis Martinez and Jose Martinez were escorted out of a Clinton Street tavern in Buffalo on July 3, 2021 and left together in a pickup truck.

About 15 minutes later, the brothers returned to the tavern in the pickup truck driven by Luis, and Jose fired multiple shots at several patrons standing outside the building, according to officials. After clearing the gun when it jammed, Jose shot a woman who was lying on the ground.

The victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC where she was treated for three gunshot wounds to her lower body.

Luis in May was found guilty by a jury of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree assault. In addition to 10 years in prison, he was also sentenced to five years of post-release supervision.

Jose received the same sentence as his brother after pleading guilty to a second-degree attempted murder charge in 2022.

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the WIVB News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here .