Police: Man arrested in July stabbing death claimed self-defense

By Jackie Valley

Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011 | 10:26 a.m.

An 18-year-old arrested in connection with the death of a man found stabbed near the Sahara Avenue overpass last month claimed he acted in self-defense, according to an arrest report.

Metro Police arrested Michael Martinez on Tuesday and charged him with murder with a deadly weapon. The victim, 41-year-old Marcus Goodman, died from multiple stab wounds, according to the Clark County Coroner’s Office.

Police said an anonymous call July 30 to Metro dispatch led officers to the 2500 block of Highland Drive, where they found Goodman dead.

The suspect’s girlfriend told detectives Martinez called her July 30 and said he had been in a fight with an unknown man in a dirt lot on Highland Drive, the arrest report alleges. Martinez allegedly said he had injured the man, but he didn’t know to what extent, according to the arrest report.

His girlfriend went to the lot described by Martinez and found Goodman, according to the arrest report. She returned home and observed Martinez with several scratches on his neck and a cut on his forehead, police said.

Martinez allegedly told his girlfriend that he attacked Goodman after the victim attacked him with a stick, according to the arrest report.

When detectives interviewed Martinez, he again claimed self-defense: He said Goodman allegedly attacked him with a stick, hitting him in the ribs and above his right eye. Martinez told police he then pulled out a knife and stabbed Goodman eight to 10 times, according to the arrest report.

Police arrested Martinez based on his statements to detectives and evidence collected. He’s being held in the Clark County Detention Center without bail, according to jail records. His first court appearance is scheduled for today.