The New York Police Department (NYPD) is mourning the loss of an officer who was shot and killed by his father in an apparent murder-suicide on August 2. 

The incident took place in the father’s apartment in the Bronx, where Alexis Martinez was sleeping. According to reports, Martinez’s father, who, according to relatives was dealing with mental health issues, shot him in the head around 12:45 pm. 

An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that the father then turned the gun on himself in another room of the apartment.

Martinez, 26, had been a member of the NYPD since 2018 and served in the Bronx narcotics division. He was also a part of a baseball team comprised of fellow officers. 

When he did not show up for a game, a colleague from his division went to check on him and discovered him dead.

A video shared on Twitter (now called X) by Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban showed Martinez’s body being removed from the apartment, draped with an American flag. Caban tweeted on Wednesday, “Our hearts are heavy as we honor our fallen brother, Police Officer Alexis Martinez, who was taken from us earlier today.”

NYC Mayor Eric Adams also posted a message about Martinez’s death. 

A prayer vigil was held at the 34th Precinct in Washington Heights, where Martinez served for four of his five years with the NYPD. Friends and family gathered to honor his memory and released balloons into the sky as a tribute.

Officer Martinez was known for his commitment to police work and his desire to make a positive impact on the community. His cousin, Felix Camacho, fondly remembered him as always ready to help others, describing his warm smile, and the inspiration he provided for pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Police continue to investigate what led up to the shooting.