Chicago police shooting: Friends remember fallen Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez for his smile and sense of service

CHICAGO (WLS) — The man accused of killing Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez appeared in court Thursday.

Darion McMillian, 23, of Harvey, faces two charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and more. The judge has ordered him to remain in custody.

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In the meantime…we hear from those who knew and loved the fallen officer.

Some very close friends of fallen Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez from the school where they grew up said his charismatic personality and sense of service will never be forgotten.

“It’s still a bit of a shock,” said CPD Officer Andres Naranjo, Officer Martinez’s close friend. “It’s like a pendulum.”

Officer Naranjo said he is in a complex state of disbelief days after losing who he describes as his best friend on duty, Officer Martinez.

“There are times when I don’t believe what happened, it happened and there are other times when I realize it happened,” Naranjo said.

Martinez, Naranjo and another close friend, Marisa Galvan, grew up at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, the small, close-knit Catholic elementary school on West 62nd Street, where they graduated in 2012 in the 8th grade.

“From kindergarten through 8th grade, we went to Santa Claus,” Galvan said. “For me, he will go down as the most hilarious person I have ever known in my life.”

Looking back at Enrique’s old school photos in yearbooks, Marisa said it is Enrique’s smile that will stay with her forever.

“Never take life too seriously,” Galvan said. “I know every time I laugh now, it won’t be the same.”

Andres said that Enrique was the best man at his wedding. The two were also connected by their united desire to serve the city as Chicago police officers.

“We both grew up thinking we wanted to be police officers,” Naranjo said. “We want to be able to help others. It was just who we are, it’s who he was.”

Officer Martinez died in the line of duty Monday evening during a traffic stop near 80th and Ingleside.

Police said 23-year-old Darion McMillian shot and killed Martinez and the driver of the car he was in… before the Harvey man was arrested later that evening.

Now, at St. Nicholas, a small memorial rests on the front wall of the school the young officer attended as a tribute to his selfless service.

“We are a strong family,” said St. Nicholas of Tolentine director Dr. Mariannes Menden. “We lean on each other, we are there for each other.”

Dr. Menden said his energy and sense of service at the school will never be forgotten.

“He was brave and he really saw the other person and he really wanted to make everything better for them,” said Dr. Menden.

Chicago police said Officer Martinez and his partner were approaching a car blocking traffic near 80th and Ingleside Monday evening when McMillian, sitting in the passenger seat, reached for a bag on the ground, ignored police commands and pulled out a fully automatic handgun.

CPD said McMillian shot and killed Officer Martinez along with the driver of the car in a barrage of gunfire.

Police say he pushed the driver out of the car so he could climb behind the wheel and drive away.

Police allege McMillian dragged Martinez’s partner, who fired a single shot into the ground.

On Wednesday afternoon, the CPD announced charges after Officer Enrique Martinez was killed in the line of duty Monday evening.

CPD said McMillian then burst into a woman’s first-floor apartment on the next block and used a knife he found to cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet before attempting to run away and being arrested by police.

Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke at a police press conference on Wednesday.

“Officer Martinez saved lives, even though he knew it could cost him his own,” Johnson said.

Will County court documents show that two months ago, McMillian tried to “…fake a drug screening test…”, a non-arrestable offense under the SAFE-T Act.

That’s why a judge ordered McMillian to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet that he allegedly cut off.

Records also show McMillian was released from prison last July after serving more than three years on a separate aggravated firearms charge.

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