MSU Track standout, Tony Martin, 19, dies in Saginaw shooting
July 19, 2020
Editors note: This story previously attributed the Free Press report that Martin had been killed. It was edited after the Saginaw Police Department confirmed to WDBM that Martin, 19, was among the two dead in the shooting. This story has also been edited now that more information has become available from Saginaw Police.
SAGINAW, Michigan — Tony Martin, a Michigan State University track athlete and a Saginaw High School graduate, died in a gas station shooting just after 2 a.m. Sunday, July 19 in Saginaw, the Saginaw Police Department confirmed in a statement on Sunday evening.
Martin was 19 years old.
A 22-year-old male also died from apparent gunshot wounds and a 25-year-old woman was wounded in the shooting that occurred around 2:19 a.m. in the parking lot of a Sunoco gas station, the Saginaw Police Department said in a release. The 22-year-old’s identity is not known at this time and the woman’s gunshot wound was non-life threatening.
Martin, 19, competed as a sprinter and in the long jump and triple jump for the Spartans. He had just completed his first season with the team. He finished second in the 60-meter dash at the GVSU Holiday Open, his debut event.
On the season, Martin notched two top-five finishes in the 60-meter and 200-meter dash at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational. He also posted a PR of 6.66 meters in the long jump which was good for sixth overall at the Power Five invitational. Martin also set a PR of 6.92 seconds in the 60-meter dash at the Power Five Invitational.
Martin’s PR in the 200-meter dash was set at the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Feb. 28-29.
The track standout was also one of the top high school long jumpers in the history of the state of Michigan. During his senior year at Saginaw High School, he shattered the Michigan state long jump record with a leap of 26 feet and 6 inches – it was also the 7th longest outdoor jump by a high schooler in U.S. history.
The Major Crimes Unit consisting of Saginaw Police and Michigan State Police detectives are investigating the incident as a double homicide, Saginaw PD said in a statement. No suspects are in custody at this time.
The Michigan State Track and Field team’s Twitter account released a statement shortly after the death of Martin became known.
We send our condolences to the family and friends on the passing of Tony Martin. pic.twitter.com/d4yuQNyc7h
— MSU Track & Field/XC (@MSUTrackFieldXC) July 19, 2020
Police said that if any information is known involving the incident, call the Saginaw Police Department, Det. Anthony Accardo at 989-759-1419 or CRIME STOPPERS at 1-800-422-5254.
WDBM The Impact reporters Nathan Stearns, Joe Dandron and Eric Bach contributed to this story. This is a developing story, to contact the station you can email [email protected].