A heartbroken son has beaten up a murder suspect who allegedly shot his father dead in a road rage shootout – photos show the hard-working father smiling with his four children.
Ryan Martin, 47, was killed and pictured lying on the ground next to Geoffrey E. Hammond’s Mercedes as the gunman continued to shoot at passersby in broad daylight in Rose City, Portland.
Martin, who was unarmed, allegedly got out of his Toyota Tundra to confront Hammond during a road rage incident when the gunman suddenly pulled out his gun and struck the father.
Family father Ryan Martin from Southwest Washington died at the scene of the accident and some of his last words were: “I’m sorry.” “I had a bad day,” witnesses say.
Father-of-four Ryan leaves behind his four children Taylor, 27, Anna, 22, Emily, 20, and 17-year-old Drew, who remembered him as a “great man.”
Family: Ryan Martin and his children Taylor, 27, Anna, 22, (far right), Emily, 20, (center) and 17-year-old Drew. The Martin family is pictured in 2018
Ryan Martin, 47, was shot – and then pictured lying on the ground next to Geoffrey E. Hammond’s Mercedes as the gunman continued shooting at passersby in broad daylight in Rose City, Portland. Hammond has since been arrested for murder
Taylor Martin, Ryan’s eldest son, wrote in a tribute on Facebook: “Dad, words cannot express the pain I feel upon hearing the news of your death.”
“You were a great husband and father, the smartest and hardest working man I ever knew.” You are my best friend and will always be in my heart.
“I will carry on your legacy in everything I do. “You were taken from me too soon.”
The 27-year-old said he “will not forget” the shooter who caused so much suffering in his family. Ryan Martin was remembered as a loving father and community man.
He added: “And I will not forget the pain this man caused me today.”
‘I love you daddy.’
Ryan Martin (right). Some of his last words were: “I’m sorry.” “I was having a bad day,” said witnesses who recalled Martin speaking from the floor before his death
On a GoFundMe page set up by the family, Taylor wrote: “Hello everyone, my name is Taylor Martin, my father Ryan’s first born son.”
“Late Wednesday evening I received the news that my father had been the victim of a road rage-related homicide on Tuesday evening.”
“He was pronounced dead at the scene.” My family would greatly appreciate any donations in memory of the tragic loss of a great father, friend and community member.
“Ryan leaves behind four children.”
Passerby Samuel Gomez, 48, photographed Hammond, 46, pointing the gun at him on Wednesday afternoon after fatally wounding Martin.
Ryan Martin pictured with his eldest daughter Anna (center)
Hammond is accused of murdering Martin moments earlier following a road rage incident in the crime-ridden city.
The couple “exchanged the middle finger” and Martin got out of his car unarmed, walked up to Hammond’s vehicle and knocked on the window, at which point Hammond shot him in the chest, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Hammond then shot Phoenix resident Gomez, who was in town for a National Organization of Minority Architects conference.
The Oregon city is notorious for its murders, recording a record 101 murders in 2022.
There were 92 murders in 2021, although the murder rate has declined this year and currently stands at 53.
Geoffrey E. Hammond, 46, is alleged to have shot 47-year-old Ryan Martin (pictured right)
Martin, of Southwest Washington, died at the scene after pleading with Hammond, who tried to shoot him again, but his gun malfunctioned
At first, Gomez thought Hammond was an undercover police officer who had taken control of the chaotic scene.
But moments later he found himself knocking down the barrel of a gun just ten meters away before he was shot.
“He loaded the gun and looked right at me and then, as you can see in the picture, he just knocked me out,” Gomez told The Oregonian.
The bullet struck Gomez in the leg and penetrated the femur in the other.
“Everything just changed,” Gomez said. “I’m just thankful I’m alive because it could have been worse.”
Two passers-by and a doctor who happened to be nearby rushed to his aid.
Gomez was then taken to OHSU Hospital where he is recovering.
Witnesses told police that Hammond once flashed some kind of badge “as if he were a police officer” and said something that sounded something like: “You’re lucky I didn’t shoot you in the head.”
Hammond called 911 as he drove to the county courthouse and openly admitted to police that he shot the two men.
Police have charged Hammond with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and fourth-degree assault
“He believed he was justified in doing so because Ryan Martin was threatening him and because Sam Gomez may have a weapon,” the affidavit states.
During a lengthy interview, Hammond told investigators that he shot both men, consented to a search of his car, that he saw that Martin was unarmed before shooting him, and that he intended to shoot Martin a second time Time to shoot, but the gun malfunction stopped him.
He also told investigators that he shot the man from the hotel because he believed the man “may have been planning an ambush that he recognized as a military tactic.”
Police have charged Hammond with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and fourth-degree assault.
Court records show Hammond recently changed his name from Jeffrey Edward Mandalis.
Samuel Gomez, 48, photographed the man with a gun in his Mercedes SUV just moments after he heard the man shoot another driver as he lay dying in the road
Records show Mandalis has a criminal history in Illinois, including assault, vandalism, trespassing and battery.
In May 2023, Hammond filed for bankruptcy with approximately $34,000 in credit card debt and became unemployed after his financial company closed.
According to court documents, Hammond owns an $890,000 home in Portland’s West Hills, a 2020 Mercedes SUV and four firearms.
The National Organization of Minority Architects initially advised conference attendees not to walk around Portland and to take Uber or Lyft when traveling around the city.
The daytime shooting was the latest in a string of killings in Portland over the past two weeks, with much of the violence concentrated in the drug-heavy downtown area.
The city’s tourism board has also warned that open drug trafficking and street drug use are endangering Portland’s visitor industry.
Most of the murders in downtown Portland are related to the city’s fentanyl crisis, with Martin’s killing representing a shocking break from the norm.