San Pedro police have launched criminal and internal investigations into a shooting incident involving an off-duty police officer using his personal weapon to defuse a domestic dispute. In the process, he shot a man named Maverick Fuentes. Today we spoke with the victim's common-law wife via phone, who gave us her side of what had happened. ASP Stacy Smith also gave us the police side of the story:
Delia Martinez, a resident of San Pedro, claims police used excessive force against her common-law partner, Maverick Fuentes, in front of their five-month-old child-and she says she has the video to prove it.
According to Martinez, the incident began as a private argument between her and Fuentes. She states that an off-duty police officer-who happens to be their neighbor-barged into their home, adding that this was not their first run-in with him.
Voice of (Delia Martinez), Says Police Shot her Spouse
"This same police has shot my dog 2 times in front of my house on 2 different occasions, last year November and this year February."
"Now yesterday this man walked way in our house and stand up in front of my guy a distance of 5 feet and I was on the opposite side with my baby because we have a 5 month baby with us and I was like 5 or 6 feet away from them and the officer I didn't recall what he said he said something like he wants to know what is happening or something like that but we just wanted to know what the police was doing here because we were having a confrontation. So now quickly the police walked straight into him and when I see, I was the only witness and I sat on the bed with the baby, and he just pinned my guy down and started to rumble with him and pin him down and bring him down on the sofa."
Martinez claims that she saw a firearm in the waist of the officer and she feared that he would use it on her spouse, and as things escalated, Martinez's worst fear unfolded before her eyes.
Voice of (Delia Martinez), Says Police Shot her Spouse
"Now when I see we are in the bathroom and my baby is outside on the bed crying because she hears all the noise she got frightened he is rumbling in the bathroom with my guy and I am still trying to pull him off again, and I tried to pull him off again he still had the upper hand. He was on top of my guy again still rumbling in the bathroom And I was trying to pull him off and at that same time I saw his gun again. And I said they are going to pull this gun and he will want to shoot my gun, this felt like it was getting out of hand you know."
"The quickness of when I thought it and moved away from the police because I let him go for a while he pulled his gun quick and I just heard a Pop, It happened quick quick quick."
"I left it to god and this man still pulled his gun and shot him knowing my guy didn't have a knife or nothing that would threaten his life to say he had to defend himself and pull a gun."
"The police at no time came in with a warning or told us that oh I will have to arrest you or I will call the back up time like a bigger police, no he went straight to take things into his hands and himself and he started to rough up and man handle my guy."
When we followed up with the Police Department today at their press briefing, ASP Smith gave us a different version of events, that the officer had been assaulted while attempting to defuse the situation which ultimately resulted in him using his personal firearm.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"Police are investigating a shooting incident which resulted in the injury of Maverick Fuentes which occurred on Sunday 19th, July 2026 in San Pedro town. What we have learned is that a police officer who had reported off duty at that time was making his way home and upon entering his apartment building he observed that there was an ongoing domestic disturbance. He reportedly sought to de escalate the situation however that proved futile he further reportedly called into the station requesting police intervention but shortly after doing so the domestic altercation became violent and he made a decision to intervene with a view of detaining the male person. The officer reportedly alleged that upon doing so he was assaulted by the male person as well as the female which led to him withdrawing his personal protection license and firing a single shot which caught Mr Fuentes to the leg. Both the police officer and Mr Fuentes sought medical attention. A concurrent criminal and internal investigation has commenced in this matter."
Jomarie Lanza:
"Did he call for assistance upon entering the home and attempting to diffuse the situation? Or did he call after he shot the individual?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"I am not clear as to the sequence of events however the briefing, as I stated in that order that it was given to me he arrived home, he observed there was a domestic disturbance, I don't believe it was inside the home I think it was some common area because it was an apartment building and he called but the mobile was not in the immediate vicinity, however during this time the altercation escalated into a violent nature according to him and that is why he made the decision to intervene. As you would know situations of a domestic nature have the propensity to escalate rather quickly and I believe if it is that the officer acted in the manner that he said he acted it was done with a view to preserve the life of the female who he thought was a victim at the time."
The firearm was taken into custody and an expended shell was also retrieved at the scene. Martinez claims that she did file a report but ASP Smith says that to her knowledge that report has not made its way to her as yet.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"I will also say that when I spoke with OC San Pedro he stated that the female has not come in to give any report as yet so certainly we are asking for the female to come in and give her report and put on record what she saw transpired, but what I was told by officer commanding San Pedro is that she was not being cooperative, neither stating anything against the police officer or her common law husband."
"I stated that when he sought to intervene to prevent the ongoing violence he was attacked by both the male and female that is what he is alleging yes."
Jomarie Lanza:
"So at point did he feel that withdrawing a weapon and shooting the man was the best way to deescalate the situation? Given that there was also a 5 month old child in the room"
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"I don't know exactly where in happened as I said I was told that it was in the common area but you said it to me that he was being attacked by 2 persons. Everyone has the right to defend themselves if I see someone that is armed with a firearm it will not be a decision or a choice of mine to fight that person but Ms Lanza all these matters will be fleshed out in relation to the investigation so that is the extent to which I will comment at this time and again urge all persons to come forward."
