Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Surviving Shooting

UPDATE: A San Francisco man was sentenced to one year in federal prison after surviving a deadly shooting that claimed the life of his friend. Marco Martinez, 28, was sentenced earlier this month following a harrowing incident in 2021 when he was shot five times while at a bus stop near 24th and Mission Streets.

On that fateful day, Martinez was smoking marijuana with his friend, Isaiah Cardenas, 26, when a gunman, later identified as Keshon Wilson, 24, approached and opened fire, fatally wounding Cardenas. Wilson was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder for his actions. Despite surviving, Martinez’s legal troubles escalated quickly.

Court records reveal that Martinez was carrying a loaded, unregistered pistol at the time of the shooting, a serious violation due to his prior robbery conviction. He was later charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to his federal sentence, Martinez is already serving a five-year prison term for a carjacking conviction.

Martinez’s legal struggles did not end there. He was also convicted of first-degree burglary in 2024. In a plea agreement, he admitted to having a firearm in 2022 during a raid on his home. The prosecution described him as a gang member who previously pointed a gun at a robbery victim in 2020, which led to his first felony charge.

The prosecution’s memo highlights the gravity of Martinez’s situation, noting that the 2021 shooting was the second time he had survived gunfire. “That Martinez and his friend may have been shot in an unprovoked manner gives some credence to Martinez’s claim that he possessed a firearm to feel safe,” it reads. Martinez himself acknowledged the danger of his actions, stating, “I know having a gun makes my community less safe and I know that’s bad.”

During his sentencing, his attorney, Samantha Jaffe, argued for leniency, emphasizing that Martinez has been reflecting on his life while incarcerated and is eager to pursue a career as an HVAC technician. “He is extremely interested in becoming an HVAC technician, a job that is available to felons, and would enable him to support his family,” Jaffe noted in court filings.

As Martinez begins his prison term, his case raises critical questions about gun violence and the challenges faced by individuals seeking to reform their lives. The urgency of his story resonates in a city grappling with rising crime rates and the impact of gun violence on communities.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as we continue to follow Martinez’s journey and the implications of his case on public safety and criminal justice reform.