Who is Alex Martinez-Sarmiento?
"When my mom told me and my siblings she was pregnant, back when there were only three of us, I remember we were all a little jealous. But the moment Alex was born, that feeling disappeared instantly, we loved him right away. Even as a baby, he was different. He started walking at just seven months, and he was always so strong. Anytime he fell, he’d just get right back up like nothing happened. We were all amazed by that about him.
As he got older, Alex carried himself like the oldest brother, even though me and my sister were actually older than him. He was always the one protecting us, and I’ll never forget that. The crazy part is, even with our seven-year age gap, he always made me feel safe. That’s just who he was. His courage, the way he stood up for what he believed in, it was something special.
Alex was an amazing boxer. It didn’t take long for people to notice his talent, after just a week of training, they already saw his potential and wanted him to travel for matches. Even though that path didn’t fully work out, he still passed that strength on to us. He taught me, my sister, and our little brother how to fight, how to stand our ground.
Alex was also incredibly creative. He could draw, and before ripped jeans were even a trend, he was already making his own, ripping them up and bleaching them into his own style. He was always ahead of his time like that. He had one of the biggest hearts. Alex would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He wasn’t just thinking about himself, he showed up for people, for his friends, and for his family. He was the kind of friend anyone would be lucky to have.
Seeing him as a father is something I’ll always hold close to my heart. His daughter had him completely wrapped around her finger, and it was beautiful to see that softer side of him. He loved her in a way that spoke without words.
He didn’t just leave behind his mom, his brothers and sisters, and his daughter, he also left behind eight nieces and nephews who miss him deeply. To them, he’ll always be remembered as their strong, protective uncle, someone they looked up to and felt safe with. To me, my brother was a king and legends never die.
We will honor you, brother, and keep your name alive forever, even after justice, because justice will be served."
-Saray Rocha, sister of Alex Martinez-Sarmiento
What happened?
Early morning of July 5th, 2025, CSPD got a 911 call about a Black man with a rifle walking around in the downtown area. The Downtown Area Response Team (DART) was sent out to investigate. They canvassed the parking lot west of Tejon St and south of Kiowa St, and Officer Connor Jacob Wallick recieved a completely unreadable survellaince photo. With shaky circumstantial "evidence", Officer Wallick assumed the suspect was Alex Martinez-Sarmiento. When Wallick located him, he jumped out in front of Alex, gun already drawn. Wallick pointed his gun at Alex sideways, screaming orders at him. Fearing for his life, Alex turned and ran, and in response, Officer Wallick shot him 3 times in the back. As Wallick approached Alex who was on the ground, he continued to bark orders at Alex and handcuffed his hands behind his back.
Wallick and the other officers stood there, providing no medical intervention and preventing his friends from getting near as Alex Martinez-Sarmiento bled out to death.
The Killer Cop
Officer Connor Wallick is still currently employed as a cop for CSPD. In December of 2025, the Fourth District Attorney's office cleared Officer Wallick of any wrongdoing, stating the use of lethal force on a man running away was justified. The DA's final review of this case was based on what Officer Wallick believed, not actual reality.
In the DA's review of the case, Officer Wallick described his thought process leading up to the shooting. His thinking showed someone who was too terrified to properly read the situation and address it. He consistently made the most violent and uncharitable assumptions of Alex's intentions and actions This would ultimately lead Wallick to shoot a fleeing man in the back, endangering everyone around them.
Moreover, Officer Wallick has a history of racial profiling and jumping to conclusions. He was one of the first officers who responded to the Club Q shooting. Wallick initially arrested a queer Chicano victim instead of Anderson Lee Aldrich merely because the mass shooter claimed the two individuals subduing him were responsible for the mass shooting.
Connor Jacob Wallick is clearly a danger to the community and does not deserve to have authority and power as he will weaponize it against people of color.
The family and COSAARPR demand that Police Chief Vasquez or Mayor Yemi Mobolade fire Officer Connor Wallick. Additionally, we demand DA Michael Allen indict him for murdering Alex Martinez-Sarmiento.
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