KOLD News 13 live, local and late breaking-Illegal Immigrant Responsible For Death Of Police Officer

Illegal Immigrant Responsible For Death Of Police Officer

From The KOLD News 13 Newsroom

A makeshift memorial is growing for a Poenix police officer killed in the line of duty Tuesday.

Investigators say 24-year-old Erik Jovani Martinez shot and killed Officer Nick Erfle, after Erfle stopped the him for jaywalking.

The officer discovered there was a warrant out for Martinez's arrest and he tried to arrest him. There was a struggle, and the officer was shot.  Erfle was rushed to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center where he died from his injuries an hour later.  Officer Erfle had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 8 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says Martinez was in the country illegally last year when he was arrested and convicted on sex charges.

After the shooting, police say Martinez carjacked someone. When officers caught up with the vehicle, they say Martinez pointed a gun at his hostage's head.

That's when officers shot and killed Martinez.  The hostage wasn't hurt.