Man found guilty of shooting that prosecutors say was fueled by jealousy

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — It was around midnight when Jose Martinez spotted a neighbor he’d previously dated getting into someone else’s car.

That bothered him enough he grabbed a gun and, when the couple returned, threatened the driver, prosecutors say. Fearing for his safety, the driver was leaving when Martinez fired a shot at the rear of the vehicle.

The round struck the driver in the lower back. He survived.

A Kern County jury on Thursday found Martinez guilty of assault with a gun and negligent discharge of a firearm. He faces more than 20 years in prison at next month’s sentencing hearing.

“Gun violence is an unacceptable threat to our community, and we are constantly working to put an end to it,” District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said in a release. “This conviction is a significant step forward in our pursuit of justice, as we aim for the maximum penalty under the law.”

The incident occurred July 16, 2022, after the victim picked up Martinez’s neighbor in East Bakersfield.

Text messages revealed Martinez became angry upon seeing his neighbor with another guy, according to prosecutors. The couple returned to find him standing on the corner, gun in hand.

Martinez approached the driver’s side window and told the man he better leave “his block” or he’d shoot him, prosecutors say. The shooting occurred soon after and Martinez was taken into custody.

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