On April 12, 2026, at approximately 2:00 AM, officers responded to a call for service regarding gunshots in the area of Fiesta Café in Rochester, Olmsted County, MN. Upon arrival, responding officers located a spent 9mm shell casing, a knife, and blood on the ground. Officers in the area observed a vehicle (MN ZTY 922) aggressively fleeing the area by hopping curbs, running red lights, and driving recklessly. That vehicle is registered to JOSUE ULISES MARTINEZ [DOB REDACTED]. Detective Bartsch was assigned to investigate this incident.
Based on reviewing surveillance footage and speaking to witnesses, Det. Bartsch learned the following information. Martinez and his associates have an ongoing dispute with ESMERALDA LIZETH VALDEZ RIOS [DOB REDACTED] and her associates. On the night of April 12, those two groups of people got into an altercation inside the Fiesta Café restaurant. Rios stated that during this altercation, Martinez said that he was going to assault them, that he had a firearm, and that when he saw them outside of the restaurant they were “dead.” Surveillance footage showed that inside the restaurant, both groups of people were getting into an animated argument.
Multiple people can be seen holding Rios and Martinez back from one another so they do not physically assault each other. At some point, when neither of them were being physically restrained, they approached each other again and Rios attempted to strike Martinez with a closed fist. While Martinez and Rios continued their physical dispute, Rios’ associate produced a knife and stabbed Martinez’s associate in the neck. Rios and Martinez proceeded to throw drinks at one another. The individual who inflicted the stab wound fled the area after the assault.
The victim of the stabbing walked out of the restaurant and was visibly injured. Martinez and his associates left the restaurant and got into ZTY922. Martinez got into the driver’s seat and began to leave the parking lot. As the vehicle began driving away, at least one gunshot was fired from the vehicle. The spent 9mm shell casing was found directly where the vehicle was located when the gunshot was fired. The individual who stabbed Martinez’s associate was subsequently located and interviewed. He explained that he observed Martinez holding a black colored pistol and fired it as he drove away.
A female witness who was on scene during the incident provided the same information, identifying Martinez as the individual who fired two gun shots. A male witness informed Det. Bartsch that he observed the entire interaction within the restaurant. He stated that the argument began when the groups were making threats towards one another. Two witnesses stated that Martinez and his associates were part of a gang that had a dispute with Rios and her associates. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: YOU MUST APPEAR FOR EVERY COURT HEARING REGARDING THIS CASE. FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR COURT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND MAY RESULT IN ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL CHARGES BEING IMPOSED AND PUNISHED AS PROVIDED IN MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION 609.49.
