On February 25, a protest organized by the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) took place outside the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s office in Colorado Springs. The gathering aimed to demand justice for Alex Martinez-Sarmiento and the indictment of officer Connor Jacob Wallick, who is alleged to have fatally shot Martinez-Sarmiento in July 2025.
More than 20 demonstrators, including family members, friends, and supporters, came together to honor Martinez-Sarmiento’s memory. Among them were several of his siblings, his mother, and his young daughter, who now faces life without her father. The protest featured banners calling for Wallick’s indictment, with messages such as “Justice for Alex Martinez! Indict Officer Wallick now!” and a painted portrait of Alex.
Details of the Incident
On July 5, 2025, the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Downtown Area Response Team responded to a conflict outside busy nightclubs shortly after 1 a.m. Surveillance footage from the Real Time Crime Lab indicated that officers believed Martinez-Sarmiento was armed. When officer Wallick approached with his weapon drawn, he shouted for Martinez-Sarmiento to put his hands up. Witnesses reported that Martinez-Sarmiento, who was unarmed, ran in fear, prompting Wallick to open fire, striking him multiple times in the back and resulting in his death.
This shooting was not an isolated incident. It marked the second time in a few months that the Downtown Area Response Team had fatally shot an individual in the back. The first incident involved Nathaniel “Johnny” Altman, a disabled Black man experiencing homelessness, who was killed by officer Carlos Pittman on March 31, 2025.
Community Response
During the protest, attendees chanted slogans demanding accountability, including “No justice, no peace! No racist police,” and “Alex Martinez deserves to be alive! Connor Jacob Wallick deserves to rot in jail.” Saray Rocha, Martinez-Sarmiento’s sister, expressed her grief and frustration, stating, “My brother was always tough. … He didn’t run because he wanted to hurt anyone, or because he wanted to die, he ran out of fear. I demand justice for my brother and I won’t stop until justice is served!” A chorus of support followed her remarks, with the crowd chanting, “We love you, we love you!”
Brandon Rincon, chair of COSAARPR, highlighted Wallick’s history of alleged racist policing, mentioning previous incidents, including the arrest of Rich Fierro, a hero from the Club Q shooting. Rincon argued for community control of the police, asserting that “We should have a mechanism for the people, by the people, that allows us to hold officers accountable when they wrong their communities.”
The demands for justice and accountability reflect growing concerns over police conduct and the need for systemic reform. As the community continues to advocate for change, the case of Alex Martinez-Sarmiento stands as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice in cases of police violence.
