Officials: Man charged with attempted murder of 2 state troopers during 10-hour negotiation at Branchville motel

Authorities say Nicolas Martinez opened fire during a 10-hour negotiation, injuring two state troopers at the motel.

Lanette Espy

Feb 2, 2024, 6:06 PM

Updated 328 days ago

Share:

A 27-year-old man was charged with attempted murder charges after a 10-hour showdown Tuesday at a Branchville motel that ended with two injured state troopers, officials say.
Authorities say troopers went to the Cobmin Ridge Motel on Route 206 for a welfare check. They say Nicolas Martinez, who was staying at one of the motel rooms, refused to leave the room and began to fire a weapon out of the room at the officers from the State Police Technical Emergency and Mission Specialist unit.
After multiple hours of failed attempts to negotiate with Martinez, officials say troopers breached the motel room at 4 a.m. They say Martinez fired multiple rounds from an air rifle at officers and injured two state troopers.
Martinez was then taken into custody. The troopers are expected to recover.
Martinez was charged with two counts of attempted murder, terroristic threats, unlawful possession of an air rifle and related weapons crimes.