January 5, 2022
Ofc. Kent Keller, PIO
Greeley Police Department
(970) 373-7755
[email protected]
On Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at approximately 9:54 p.m., Greeley Police officers were dispatched to a disturbance with weapons at the Cosmic Market, located at 2730 23rd Avenue. The reporting party advised dispatchers that a male was attempting to steal a car and that the male had a gun. While still en route to the initial call, the officers were advised that the manager of the store had been shot.
Officers arrived and stayed with the victim, 51-year-old Victor Martinez, until EMS units arrived and transported him to the hospital. Greeley Police detectives responded and took over the investigation. The investigation led to the identification of two suspects; Trent O’Neil, 22, and Kyle Moore, 28. While Greeley detectives were working on locating O’Neil and Moore, they were informed that Mr. Martinez had died as a result of the gunshot wound.
Greeley detectives served multiple search warrants in the Thornton area and arrested O’Neil on Tuesday, January 4, 2021. O’Neil was booked into the Adams County Jail while he awaits extradition back to Weld County. This morning, Wednesday, January 5, detectives received actionable information that Moore was at a home in the 2400 block of A Street. Due to the severity of the crime, the Greeley SWAT Team was activated.
At about 9:00 a.m., the Greeley SWAT Team, assisted by members of the Patrol Unit, Investigations Unit, K9 Unit, Crisis Negotiation Unit, DOC Adult Parole and Probation, Banner Health TEMS Medics, and the Greeley Fire Department, arrived at the home to arrest Moore. Multiple unrelated parties exited the home and surrendered to officers. A reverse 911 call was also sent out to nearby residents to shelter in place and avoid the area.
After two hours of negotiations, and the use of several chemical munition agents, Kyle Moore surrendered to the Greeley Police Department SWAT Team and was arrested without incident. Moore was treated on scene for chemical gas exposure and taken to the Weld County Jail. Both Moore and O’Neil are charged with Murder and Aggravated Robbery.
We would like to thank all of our partners listed above, as well as the Thornton Police Department, for their invaluable assistance during this case. We would also like to thank everyone that called us with tips about this case. By working together, we were able to bring justice to the family and friends of Mr. Martinez.
No additional information will be released today. If you have any information on this case and have not been interviewed by officers, please contact Detective Hunziker at 970-351-5451.