Springville homeowner shoots, kills intruder

SPRINGVILLE — A Springville man Thursday shot and killed an intruder who police say woke up a sleeping couple in their bedroom and demanded they take him to an ATM for cash.

The intruder was identified as Armando Martinez Jr., 31, of Provo. Police said Martinez first took the time to make a snack and change his clothes before waking and threatening the homeowners.

Officers were called to 763 S. 475 East about 2:50 a.m. Upon arrival, they found Martinez dead in the bedroom of the home, said Springville Police Lt. Dave Caron.

Martinez had walked through the neighborhood, checking as many as 20 homes for unlocked doors, Caron said. He entered the house where the shooting occurred through a sliding back door. The door was locked with a child lock, but Martinez apparently disabled it by pulling hard on the door.

Once inside the home, police said, Martinez found some clothes that had been left folded on the couch. He changed out of his wet clothes and into the homeowner's clothing. He also made himself a tortilla and ham wrap in the kitchen.

"He ate most of it and put what he didn't eat back in the fridge," Caron said. "From there, he went upstairs and started the whole thing."

Martinez entered the master bedroom and threatened the couple sleeping there, saying he had a gun. He demanded that they retrieve their wallets and keys and drive him to an ATM, according to the lieutenant.

The homeowner walked into a closet under the guise of getting ready to leave, Caron said. Instead, he took a 9 mm handgun from the closet and shot Martinez, striking him once in the chest. The homeowner and his wife were uninjured.

Martinez never actually produced a weapon, and police reported that while he claimed to have stolen a gun, none was found at the crime scene.

Court documents reveal an extensive criminal history for Martinez, including multiple jail sentences. On Feb 9, Martinez was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty to attempted damage to a jail, but was given credit for time served and released and placed on probation by 4th District Judge James Taylor.

Martinez also pleaded guilty in separate 2008 cases of attempted aggravated assault and retail theft. Court records also show a series of lesser charges including criminal mischief and theft by receiving stolen property.