Jury Convicts Driver In Drive By Shooting
Recommends 20 Year Sentence
A Kenton County jury convicted a Covington man for his role in a 2017 shooting that injured a Newport woman. Martin Stieritz, Jr. was found guilty of Complicity to Attempted Murder, Complicity to Assault 2nd Degree, and Tampering With Evidence. The same jury recommended a 20 year prison sentence for the three felony offenses.
Covington Police responded to multiple 911 calls for shots fired at the intersection of 15th & Russell Streets on April 10, 2017. Witnesses told officers a man hanging out the window of a red Honda Accord fired several rounds at a dark colored Kia SUV when the two vehicle came to a stop sign on Russell Street, heading South. Both vehicles fled the scene prior to police arrival but officers located nine spent shell casings on the scene.
Shortly after the original 911 calls, Covington Police were dispatched to Dixie Chili on Madison Avenue for a woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm. Officers quickly realized the calls were related. They found a dark colored Kia SUV, riddled with bullet holes. The female driver was taken by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment of a non-life threatening gunshot wound to her upper right arm. A male passenger, who was not hit by the gunfire, was less than cooperative with police.
Sgt. Justin Bradbury was assigned to lead the investigation. While Bradbury was interviewing witnesses, police received an anonymous call identifying the shooter as Coleman Lane. Police would later determine the anonymous caller was actually an acquaintance of the male passenger in the Kia. Despite his claims to the contrary, the man actually knew who was shooting at him. Although he did not identify the shooter for police, he told his friend who then called police anonymously.
Covington Police Crime Bureau detectives responded the a house on Monroe Street looking for Lane. While they did not locate Lane, the detectives did locate a man who was in the backseat of the red car from which the shots were fired. The man confirmed Lane was the shooter and identified Martin Stieritz, Jr. as the driver of the red Honda. The man also told detectives Stieritz provided Lane with the gun used in the shooting and where he hid the gun after the fact.
Covington Police Detective Austin Ross obtained a search warrant for a garage near West 21st Street in Covington. Detectives located a 9mm handgun hidden inside a black backpack. Testing by the KY State Police Crime Lab matched the gun to the shell casings recovered from the scene and a projectile recovered from the victim’s vehicle. On a hunch, detectives then went to a nearby residence owned by Stieritz’s family where they found him hiding out with his girlfriend. Stieritz was taken in for questioning by Bradbury. After lying repeatedly to the detective, Bradbury confronted Stieritz with several things police knew were not true. Eventually Stieritz admitted his role in the shooting. He told the detective Lane argued with a man he had a prior fight with when the two crossed paths in a gas station. Lane told Stieritz to follow the car the man left in so he did. Stieritz also admitted to giving Lane a handgun, knowing Lane intended to shoot at the man’s vehicle, and then fleeing the scene after the shooting.
The case was delayed numerous times for multiple reasons, including but not limited to, Stieritz testing positive for COVID 19 the day before the last trial date. On October 20, 2021, the case was finally called for trial before Kenton Circuit Judge Kathleen Lape. Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Noel Hudson presented the evidence and testimony on behalf of the Commonwealth. Prosecutors introduced testimony from Bradbury, Hudson, the shooting victim, Covington Police Evidence Technician Dawn Bayless, Officer Kevin Igo, and two scientists from the KY State Police Crime Lab. The jury began deliberations at 3:15 pm on Friday, October 22, 2021 but was unable the reach a verdict before the court recessed late Friday evening. The jury reconvened on October 26, 2021 and requested to watch a recording of the defendant testifying on his own behalf. After another hour of deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges. Stieritz, who had been out of jail on bond, was ordered taken into custody.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders said “Justice was delayed but fortunately is was not denied!” Sanders said it is important for the community to know “We don’t forget about criminals just because cases grow old.” Sanders said the area where the shooting took place is a residential neighborhood where any number of people could have been struck by a stray bullet.
Sanders said the jury never got to hear the reason for the initial dispute but police believe it involved Lane being robbed of marijuana months prior. “Martin Stieritz wasn’t involved in the initial beef and he should have kept it that way,” said Sanders. “But for Martin Stieritz, this shooting never takes place,” Sanders said, “Because Coleman Lane didn’t have a car, or a gun, or any bullets.” Sanders said it is important for the public to know the delays in the case were not attributable to Covington Police, saying “They put together a great case but sometimes the wheels of justice turn a lot slower than we’d like.”
Sanders also applauded the jurors and the significant sentence handed down, saying “It’s good to know our jurors see how reprehensible this conduct is no matter where it takes place.” Sanders, who grew up on Russell Street just North of the shooting scene, said “Everyone in this county is entitled to safely enjoy their neighborhood in peace,” said Sanders, “And shootings in any part of our community will not be tolerated!”
Stieritz will appear again before Judge Lape for formal, final sentencing in January 2022. Coleman Lane pled guilty in 2017 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Posted on Saturday, November 6th, 2021 @ 9:36PM
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