Farmington Police investigated and made an arrest Thursday in the second homicide of 2024.

Shane Jake John, 25, of Farmington was arrested and booked into the San Juan County Detention on a second-degree murder charge for his alleged involvement in the death of Matthew Martinez.

Farmington Police were sent to the Encore Motel, 1900 E. Main St., Room 109, four times beginning at 12:12 a.m. Jan. 10 in reference to the “same subject.” The second call was at 10:41 p.m. Jan. 10. The third call was at 1:06 a.m. Jan. 11 and the final call was in reference to an unattended death at 2:59 p.m. Jan. 11, according to the affidavit for search warrant.

The night played out as one consisting of multiple arguments and batteries. Between friends and family. Marissa Calabaza, and her brother Matthew Martinez were at the motel room with Calabaza’s boyfriend Shane John, and her friend Latanyia Clah.

The first time police responded to the room, Calabaza and John, who had been dating for two weeks, “got into an argument and were hitting each other.” Police reportedly made John leave, the report states.

John returned later that night and began arguing with Clah, who reportedly hit him in the head. John was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, but returned later.

Then at 1:06 a.m. on Jan. 11, police were called to back to the hotel in reference to a battery in which John reportedly struck Martinez in the head causing a golf ball-size bump on his head, left eye socket and right forearm, according to the affidavit for search warrant.

John was issued a citation for battering Martinez and police left.

Calabaza told police during an interview that Clah wanted to leave, so she and John took her home and then came back and then, ate at Wendy’s. She claimed when they returned to the room she “heard her brother choke and saw blood coming out of his mouth,” the affidavit states.

Police were called back to the room at 2:59 p.m. because Martinez was found dead.

Calabaza told police that Martinez “was accidentally struck by Clah as he was separating a fight.” He, later, began, “throwing up blood,” according to the affidavit.

Calabaza also said “Martinez had a history of alcohol abuse” and was “diagnosed with cirrhosis.” She believed his death was related to his illness. She also reportedly told police her brother “had no injuries,” the affidavit states.

Police continued their investigation, bringing in the medical investigator, who stated that upon examination it was determined Martinez suffered from “obvious head trauma with injuries to the left side of Martinez’s head near his ear and jaw and a possible head fracture,” the affidavit states.

Calabaza changed her story and told police that she was sleeping when “John entered the room and battered her in the face with his closed fist. Martinez got up to stop him and John punched Martinez with a closed fist on the left side of his face,” the affidavit states.

When police questioned John, he reportedly told then that he struck Martinez “on the left side of his head with his right fist closed,” leaving a “large bruise on Martinez’s face.” He said this happened when all four of them were arguing, and stated that he was “punched in the back of the head with a closed fist by Clah,” according to the affidavit.

When police questioned Clah, she reportedly confirmed the stories from both John and Calabaza, but “denied seeing the incident between Martinez and Shane,” however she added that Martinez told Calabaza, “he hit me hard sissy,” before he fell asleep and ultimately died.

In searching court records, it appeared that John was the only one with a violent crime record, having pleaded guilty in 2019 to possession of a methamphetamine and battery upon a peace officer. He also was charged on Aug. 28, 2023, with aggravated battery and child abuse, but those charges were dismissed.

The first homicide of 2024 was Jan. 1, when Orson Dickie, 25, reportedly killed his brother, Payson Dickie, 27, during a fight at their home in the Alexander Trailer Park, 1124 Fairgrounds Road.