General (04)
Susana Barrios
From:Jim Hankins <ltecato@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday,
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Protesting the fatal shooting of Rudy Anthony Martinez II by
Anaheim police
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I object in the strongest possible terms to the killing of Rudy Anthony Martinez II outside of John
Marshall Elementary School in Anaheim. This fatal police shooting was carried out on Sept. 15, 2025
while children were inside the school, literally a stone’s throw away from the intersection of Falmouth
and Holly streets.
The bullets fired by the police officer were not only a danger to the children in the school but also a
threat to the residents of the surrounding neighborhood. The shooting took place in a densely
populated urban area. It’s well known that bullets fired from guns can travel long distances and
penetrate the walls of homes, killing people inside.
It was not necessary to kill Mr. Martinez to protect the children in the school or the surrounding
community. The school could have been locked down. The neighbors in the immediate vicinity could
have been warned to stay inside and lock their doors.
Strictly speaking, even the police officer who fired the fatal shots did not need to use his gun in self-
defense because no one forced him to approach Mr. Martinez, who was reportedly “armed” with a
shovel and possibly carrying a brick. There is no reason that the officer could not have just kept driving
or stayed inside his vehicle. Police could have cordoned off the area and kept themselves and the
public safe while waiting for Mr. Martinez to calm down. They could have summoned mental health
professionals or even sought out Mr. Martinez’s family members to appeal to him to peacefully
surrender. Firing bullets and endangering hundreds of lives was not the only option.
James Hankins
Anaheim resident
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