By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Probe into fatal shooting, house fire ongoing
Victim identified as Turlock resident
homicide update pic
The deceased was identified as Norberto Martinez, 36, of Turlock. Martinez's family has established a Go Fund Me page to seek donations to benefit his two children, an 18-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. - photo by Photo Contributed

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is continuing with its investigation into a fatal shooting, as the name of the victim is made public.

The deceased was identified as Norberto Martinez, 36, of Turlock.

Martinez was found fatally shot around 1:45 a.m. Tuesday in the 1500 block of Golf Road. He was found alongside the road. Investigators have been following up on leads, but at this time there has been no suspect identified.

Martinez's family has established a Go Fund Me page to seek donations to benefit his two children, an 18-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy.

"He was a loving father, son, uncle, cousin and much more," said Francisca Santana, the mother of Martinez's 18-year-old daughter and the one to start the donation campaign. "We are devastated with this loss."

About 12 hours after the homicide discovery, a nearby home was destroyed in a fire. The home, in the 1700 block of Golden State Boulevard, had been vacant and was frequented by squatters, according to neighbors in the area.

The Turlock Rural Fire Department was assigned with battling the blaze and received assistance from several agencies, including the Turlock Fire Department. TFD Acting Chief Gary Carlson said that the firefighters found heavy fire coming from all sides of the home and it took about 30 minutes to bring it under control.

There were no injuries reported from the fire.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department has not said if the fire and the homicide are connected to each other. The cause of the fire has not been released and is being investigated by the Stanislaus Regional Fire Investigation Unit. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the unit at 572-9558.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call Detective Cory Brown at 567-4485. People can also leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at www.stancrimetips.org.

The Go Fund Me page is available at https://www.gofundme.com/dbbs6x-martinez-family