Fatal Victim Of 60 Freeway Shooting Was Chaffey College Football Player
RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBSLA.com) — A vigil was held Sunday evening for a man fatally wounded in a 60 Freeway car-to-car shooting in Jurupa Valley.
Sheldon Martin was one of five men traveling westbound on the 60 Saturday evening -- just west of Main Street -- around 11 p.m. when they were shot at by an unknown assailant or assailants in a dark vehicle.
Martin was fatally injured and declared dead at the scene. Two other men in the car were wounded by gunshots. Two escaped injury, officials said.
Martin was a wide receiver for the Chaffey College football team in Rancho Cucamonga. It was unclear if other men traveling in the car were teammates.
School begins Monday. Grief counselors will be on hand to help students deal with the murder.
Brittney Hopper spoke to Chaffey College's president, Dr. Henry Shannon, in a story that is Only On KCAL9.
"I was just saddened," said Shannon, "When I heard about the incident and I didn't know one of our players was involved. But to hear that today it was just really, really devastating."
Martin attended Jurupa Valley High School. He began taking classes at Rancho Cucamonga College this past January.
A spokesperson for the school said the 5 foot 11 inch 170 pound Martin was a "phenomenal player" and came to Chaffey despite having offers from many schools.
Shannon seconded that sentiment.
"He was an outstanding athlete, good person, good student. Just a friendly young man. The world is really going to miss him," Shannon said. "We are devastated by the fact he was killed last night."
"This is a tragic way to start the semester," said Peggy Cartwright, the college's head of marketing and public relations. "It's so sad. It's devastating. Students just loved him."
The school also released an official statement Sunday evening.
"Panther Athletics is saddened to hear of the passing of freshman wide receiver Sheldon Martin. Sheldon was a kind young man who will be profoundly missed by his teammates, coaches, and the athletics staff. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time."
Police told Hopper that two groups of people got into an argument at a restaurant in Riverside Saturday night.
When one of the groups left, the other took off after them.
Hopper reports the suspects in the murder are still at large. Hopper said that's when the car-to-car shooting occurred.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Master Investigator Wortman from the Central Homicide Unit at (760) 393-3526.
