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A heartbroken son has blasted a murder suspect who allegedly gunned down his father in a road rage shooting – as photos show the hardworking family man smiling with his wife and four kids.

Ryan Martin, 47, was shot dead – and was then pictured lying on the ground beside Geoffrey E. Hammond’s Mercedes as the gunman continued to shoot bystanders in broad daylight in Rose City, Portland

Unarmed Martin allegedly got out of his Toyota Tundra to confront Hammond during a road rage incident, when the shooter suddenly took out his gun and hit the father.  

Family man Ryan Martin, from southwestern Washington, died at the scene, and some of his final words were ‘I’m sorry. I had a bad day,’ according to witnesses.

Father-of-four Ryan leaves behind his wife Julie, and their kids Taylor, 27, Anna, 22, Emily, 20, and 17-year-old Drew – who remembered him as an ‘amazing man.’ 

Family: Ryan Martin with his wife Julie (far left) and his children Taylor, 27, Anna, 22, (far right) Emily, 20, (center) and 17-year-old Drew. The Martin family are pictured in 2018

Ryan Martin, 47, was shot dead – and was then pictured lying on the ground beside Geoffrey E. Hammond’s Mercedes as the gunman continued to shoot bystanders in broad daylight in Rose City, Portland. Hammond has since been arrested for murder

Taylor Martin, Ryan’s eldest son, wrote in a tribute on Facebook: ‘Dad, Words can’t express the pain I’m in hearing the news of your passing. 

‘You were an amazing man and father, the most intelligent and hard working men I ever knew. You are my best friend and will always be in my heart. 

‘Your legacy will be carried through me in everything I do. You were taken from me to soon.’

The 27-year-old said that he ‘won’t forget’ the shooter that caused all the pain in his family. Ryan Martin was remembered as a loving father and community man. 

He added: ‘And I won’t forget the pain that man put me through today. I love you dad.’

Ryan with his wife. Some of his final words were ‘I’m sorry. I had a bad day,’ according to witnesses who recalled Martin speaking from the ground before he died

In a GoFundMe page set up by the family, Taylor wrote: ‘Hello all, my name is Taylor Martin, first born son of my father, Ryan. 

‘Late Wednesday night I got the news that my father was a victim of a road rage induced homicide incident Tuesday evening. 

‘He was pronounced dead on the scene. My family would greatly appreciate any donations made toward the memory and tragic loss of an amazing father, friend, and community member. 

‘Ryan leaves behind 4 children.’

Passerby Samuel Gomez, 48, photographed Hammond, 46, pointing the pistol at him on Wednesday afternoon having already fatally wounded Martin. 

Ryan Martin pictured with his eldest daughter Anna (center) and his wife Julie (right)

Hammond is accused of murdering Martin moments earlier following a road-rage incident in the crime-ridden city after Martin got out of his Toyota Tundra to confront him, The Oregonian reported. 

The pair ‘exchanged middle fingers’ and Martin got out of his car unarmed and walked towards Hammond’s vehicle, and tapped on the window, at which point Hammond shot him in the chest, according to a a probable cause affidavit. 

Hammond then shot Phoenix resident Gomez, who was in town for a National Organization of Minority Architects conference. 

The Oregon city is notorious for its murders, recording an all-time high of 101 homicides in 2022. 

It saw 92 killings in 2021, although the murder rate has slowed this year and currently stands at 53.

Geoffrey E. Hammond, 46, reportedly shot and killed 47-year-old Ryan Martin (pictured right)

Martin, from southwestern Washington, died at the scene after pleading with Hammond who attempted to shoot him again, but his gun malfunctioned

At first Gomez thought Hammond may have been an undercover police officer taking control of the chaotic scene. 

But moments later he found himself starting down the barrel of a gun just ten yards away, before being shot.

‘He got the gun loaded and he just straight looked at me and then, as you can see in the picture, just popped me,’ Gomez told The Oregonian

The bullet hit Gomez in the leg, passing through to break the femur in the other. 

‘Everything just changed,’ Gomez said. ‘I’m just grateful that I’m alive because it could have been worse.’ 

Two passers by and a doctor who happened to be in the area ran to his aid. 

Gomez was then rushed to OHSU Hospital where he is recovering. 

Witnesses told police that Hammond at one point flashed some kind of badge ‘as if he were a police man,’ and said something to the effect of, ‘You are lucky I didn’t shoot you in the head.’ 

Hammond called 911 as he was driving himself toward the county courthouse, and freely admitted to dispatch that he’d shot the two men.

Police have charged Hammond with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and fourth-degree assault

‘He believed he was justified in doing so because Ryan Martin menaced him and because Sam Gomez might have had a weapon,’ the affidavit states.

During a lengthy interview, Hammond told detectives that he shot both men, consented to a search of his car, said he could see Martin was unarmed before he shot him and said he had meant to shoot Martin a second time, but the gun malfunction stopped him.

He also told detectives that he shot the man from the hotel because he thought the man ‘may have been planning an ambush which he recognized as military tactic.’

Police have charged Hammond with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and fourth-degree assault.

Court records show that Hammond recently changed his named from Jeffrey Edward Mandalis.

Samuel Gomez, 48, photographed a man holding a gun inside his Mercedes SUV just moments after he heard the man shoot another driver, who lay dying on the road

Records show that Mandalis has a criminal history in Illinois including charges of assault, vandalism, trespassing and domestic battery. 

In May 2023, Hammond filed for bankruptcy owing around $34,000 in credit card debt and unemployed after his finance company closed. 

Hammond owns an $890,000 home in Portland’s West Hills, a 2020 Mercedes SUV and four firearms according to court records. 

The National Organization of Minority Architects initially advised conference attendees to avoid walking around Portland and to take Uber or Lyft when traveling in the city. 

The daytime shooting was the latest in a string of homicides in Portland over the past two weeks, with much of the violence concentrated in the drug-ridden downtown area. 

The city’s tourist board has also issued a warning that open drug dealing and drug use on the streets in putting Portland’s visitor industry in jeopardy.

Most homicides in Downtown Portland are linked to the city’s fentanyl crisis, with Martin’s killing proving a shocking break from the norm.  

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk

Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com

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