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BROWNSVILLE — Opening arguments set a dramatic tone Monday morning in the death penalty trial of an accused cop killer, launching proceedings.
Rogeilo Martinez, 20, is accused of killing San Benito Police Department Lt. Milton Resendez — a 27-year veteran of the agency — on Oct. 17, 2023, following a chase that began on South Padre Island and continued to Brownsville and then to San Benito, where the officer died.
After the shooting, authorities say the chase headed back to Brownsville where it ended near the Gateway International Bridge after the Texas Department of Public Safety disabled the vehicle.
Martinez is charged with capital murder of a peace officer and six counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer and two counts of evading arrest.
Should he be convicted, prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
Martinez was 18 at the time of the shooting and has pleaded not guilty.
His co-defendant, 26-year-old Mexican national Rodrigo Axel Espinosa Valdez, previously pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of murder and is expected to testify when testimony begins in the trial.
Martinez has pleaded not guilty.
Jury selection in the case began on Aug. 11 and prosecutors and defense selected a jury on Sept. 22.
This is a developing story.