Hospital shooting gunman was a veteran
Huntington, Ind (WANE) – The man involved in a shooting and suicide at Parkview Huntington Hospital was a veteran of two branches of the armed services, according to family.
Raul Martinez III served in the Navy on the USS Wyoming, a nuclear submarine known as a ‘boomer’ that carried nuclear missiles. According to his father, Raul Martinez Jr., after being honorably discharged, Martinez III enlisted in the National Guard where he served as a medic.
According to 24-Hour News 8 sister station,WANE,during his time with the 293rd Infantry Regiment he was called to duty in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Later he served a tour of duty in Iraq. He ended his service in 2011 and became a long haul truck driver.
But it was after that tour of duty in Iraq that his family said he came back a changed man. He was affected by fireworks and loud noises, often shaking uncontrollably. He often suffered from depression. His father said he tried to convince his son to seek help from the VA, but Martinez III refused, saying he preferred the doctors help soldiers who had lost limbs or were physically hurt in battle.
Martinez Jr. isn’t sure if his son’s fight with depression had anything to do with what transpired Friday night. He says his son was in good spirits and excited to see a showing of “Star Wars.” He had purchased tickets in advance and was looking forward to seeing the movie with his sister. Both were avid “Star Wars” fans. Also attending the movie were Raul’s brother and 18-year-old Destiny Shanks.
After the movie concluded, Martinez was said to be in good spirits. He said he and Destiny Shanks planned to attend a “rave” in Huntington and parted ways with the rest of the group. That was around 9pm. His father, Raul Martinez Jr., says he does not know what happened during the hour that transpired between the end of the movie and the shooting that left Destiny Shanks wounded and Martinez III dead.
Martinez Jr. said he was not certain of the relationship between Shanks and his son. He said he never met her. He was, however, aware of her presence in his son’s life since he talked about her on occasion. Martinez Jr. said his family has been devastated by the loss of their son. But they are also very aware of what Raul Martinez III did and have been praying for Shanks and her family.
Funeral services are set for 10 am Wednesday, December 23rd in Huntington at Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 W. Park Drive.