BRONX DA: TAXI DRIVER’S TERROR RESULTS IN GUNMAN’S SENTENCING

TERRIFYING TIME FOR TAXI DRIVER RESULTS IN ASSAILANT’S SENTENCING

Gunman Sentenced For Attempted Murder

                (Bronx, NY – April 9, 2014) – Bronx County District Attorney Robert Johnson announces that CHRISTIAN EMANUEL-WOMACK, a/k/a “Cookie”, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by five years post-release supervision, for the January 13, 2013 shooting that nearly killed a livery cab driver.

                The sentencing by Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo on Wednesday came after the 23-year-old EMANUEL-WOMACK took a plea to the top count with which he had been charged, Attempted Murder in the 2^nd Degree, a Class B Felony.

                Father of three JULIAN MARTINEZ had just started his shift, and shortly after 5 in the morning picked up EMANUEL-WOMACK from the corner of White Plains Road and Lafayette Avenue in the Soundview section of the Bronx.  The defendant pulled a revolver, said something that was unintelligible to the victim, and without waiting for a response, shot MARTINEZ in the shoulder.  The victim opened his cab door to escape, but as he was running across the street, EMANUEL-WOMACK ran after him and shot him again, this time in the abdomen.

                At sentencing, MARTINEZ’ son, also named JULIAN MARTINEZ, read an emotional statement on behalf of his family and his father.

                “We will never forget when we got the call.  We will never forget when we arrived [at Jacobi Hospital].  We waited – friends, colleagues, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, our son, our daughters…

                “We will never forget, ever forget  what happened that day…that’s what I want you all to remember…what it’s like to never forget such a terrifying nightmare for the rest of your life.”

                The younger Martinez added, for his father: “I am still experiencing nightmares and still experience the pain of my injuries.  Because of this crime, there was a deep financial impact in my house.  My wife missed several weeks of work.  My children missed days of school and work to see to my care…

                “I still ask myself why Mr. Womack did this to me?  I believe that it is time that Mr. Womack be held responsible for his actions.”

                The case against CHRISTIAN EMANUEL-WOMACK was prosecuted by Bronx Assistant D.A. Orville Reynolds of Trial Bureau 30/40.