Ian James Martinez

Ian James Martinez, a 38-year-old White / Caucasian man known to friends and family as "Elmo," was a loving and caring person who was always willing to help others. Born on May 23, 1985, to Miguel and Roberta Lopez, Ian was an employee of the Comanche Nation and a graduate of Indiahoma Public School. He enjoyed simple pleasures like playing darts, going fishing, and, most of all, spending time with his large, close-knit circle of family and friends, many of whom he considered siblings. Those who knew him said he had a habit of putting himself last to ensure others were taken care of. His life, however, was violently cut short on the evening of April 10, 2022, in Lawton, Oklahoma.

That Sunday evening, Ian was at a friend's house at 219 SW 23rd Place to get a tattoo. What began as a casual gathering took a dark turn over what police later described as a joke. According to an affidavit, Ian and another person at the house called an acquaintance, John Benge Bourne, and joked about a stolen lighter. The joke reportedly involved comments about slapping a mutual friend. Bourne became upset by the phone call and soon after showed up at the residence armed with a handgun.

Witnesses at the home told police they tried to calm Bourne down, assuring him that the comments were only a joke and that their friend had not been harmed. As Bourne turned to leave the house, a struggle ensued. Authorities stated that Ian tried to take the gun away from Bourne. During the confrontation, Bourne allegedly fired the weapon, striking Ian in the neck. Ian managed to chase Bourne out of the house before he collapsed on the front lawn, where he died from his injuries. Bourne fled the area before police arrived.

The Lawton Police Department responded to the scene and immediately began a homicide investigation, quickly identifying John Bourne as the suspect. An arrest warrant was issued charging him with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction. Bourne was apprehended and taken into custody, with his bond initially set at $250,000. The case marked the city of Lawton's ninth homicide of 2022.

The legal proceedings against John Bourne moved slowly. A murder trial scheduled to begin in April 2024 was postponed. The trial eventually commenced in Comanche County with jury selection on August 5, 2024. After hearing the evidence and witness testimony, the jury deliberated for more than eight hours but could not come to a consensus. Due to the jury being deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict, the judge was forced to declare a mistrial.

Ian is survived by his mother, Roberta Lopez; his son, Landon Martinez; and his two brothers, Mica and Thomas Martinez, as well as a large community of friends who were like family to him. He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents. A graveside service was held for him five days after his death, on April 15, 2022, at Post Oak Cemetery in Indiahoma, where he was laid to rest.

As of August 2024, the case against John Bourne remains unresolved. Following the mistrial, a judge ordered him to appear for the next sounding docket on September 24, 2024. In the meantime, Bourne remains in custody, with his bond having been increased to $500,000, as the community and Ian's loved ones await the next steps in the pursuit of justice.