Body of Palos Hills Marine stabbed to death outside Boston pub returns to Chicago

For a lot of the afternoon Thursday, family and friends members, in addition to others who did not even know the Marine sergeant, gathered out within the rain as his physique arrived house.

His physique arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport round 2 p.m., in line with household, and was then taken to the household’s funeral house on West 63rd Avenue.

Many on the airport had been inconsolable. Martinez’s mom wailed and practically collapsed when his physique arrived, held up by family members. Their loss is immeasurable; Martinez’s future appeared limitless after serving honorably within the Marines for 4 years.

“My son had desires of going to school however… they don’t seem to be going to materialize now,” mentioned his father Manuel Martinez, holding again tears.

“He was simply there for everyone who wanted him, and he was at all times there for me as my finest pal,” mentioned Maxwell Stevens, pal.

Martinez’s physique was taken from the airport to the household’s funeral house, which he had labored together with his father to rework. His wake shall be held there subsequent week.

Many who got here knew Martinez effectively, however others knew solely of his service.

“Simply needed to indicate assist for what he did for our nation, for our neighborhood,” mentioned Southwest Aspect resident Jim Curtin. “And simply when he obtained accomplished serving our nation, to have one thing so mindless and simply violent occur shouldn’t be good.”

Martinez was fatally stabbed by a bouncer at a bar in Boston on Saturday. Alvaro Larrama, 38, is charged with homicide in his loss of life. He appeared in courtroom Monday and was ordered held with out bail.

Martinez’s household mentioned he was in Boston with one among his Marine brothers. He served 4 years with the U.S. Marine Corps and simply accomplished his service in September after attaining the rank of sergeant.

“He was such a ravishing individual inside and outside, and I do know he was simply there for everyone who wanted him, and he was at all times there for me as my finest pal,” mentioned Maxwell Stevens.

Apolonia Martinez mentioned her son was having fun with life, touring and catching up with pals, on the time of his loss of life.

Prosecutors mentioned surveillance video reveals Martinez attempting to enter the Sons of Boston pub close to the town’s well-known Faneuil Corridor with a pal Saturday night time. When he was denied entrance by the bouncer, they exchanged phrases after which Martinez walked away, prosecutors mentioned.

Prosecutors mentioned the bouncer then chased after Martinez and attacked him. He was taken to a hospital the place he died from a stab wound to the chest.

“I lastly let my guard down slightly bit now that he was again, and it was a sigh of reduction for me,” his mom mentioned. “I am like, OK, he is house. My boy is house. Now I can simply exhale, after which for this to occur, it does not make sense.”

Based on courtroom paperwork, prosecutors mentioned that after Larrama stabbed Martinez, he went again into the bar’s kitchen the place video reveals he washed his fingers, discarded his sweatshirt and knit cap, and turned his t-shirt inside out earlier than fleeing the scene from a again door.

“It is a heartbreaking case for everyone. It is a heartbreaking case for the town,” mentioned Kevin Hayden, Suffolk County, Mass., District Legal professional.

Martinez was born and raised in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, went to highschool in Northwest Indiana the place his mom is, lived in Palos Hills together with his father and was serving to out with the household enterprise, working at his household’s funeral house in Chicago.

His wake shall be held at that very same funeral house subsequent Friday, his household mentioned. A number of of his Marine brothers are mentioned to be planning to fly to Chicago to pay their respects.