Olympic rifle shooter Yarimar Mercado Martínez's mother, Mabel Martínez Antongiorgi, tragically lost her life in a shooting fueled by jealousy.
Franklin Robinson, enraged by a simple "hello" exchanged between another man and his then-girlfriend, assembled a group of armed men in April and set out to find the man. Witnesses shared this account with a Connecticut jury, which later convicted Robinson of murder in July.
Mabel Martínez Antongiorgi, 56, was in her crafting room at her home in Waterbury, Conn., when she was fatally struck in the head by a stray bullet fired during the violent episode.
Connecticut Judge Brian Preleski sentenced Robinson to 90 years in prison, as reported by the AP, for his involvement in the killing of Puerto Rico's two-time rifle shooting Olympian Yarimar Mercado Martínez's mother.
Yarimar Mercado Martínez expressed her grief in a social media post, asking why her mother had to go this way while peacefully sewing at home. She mentioned all the things she still needed to learn from her and how she was far away, unable to say a proper goodbye.
The Olympian, who had represented Puerto Rico in the 2016 and 2020 Games, was competing in Brazil when her mother was fatally shot, according to the AP.
After Hurricane Maria, Martínez Antongiorgi and her husband, John Luis Mercado, had relocated from Puerto Rico to Waterbury, Conn. They had been married for over three decades and had plans to renew their wedding vows before her tragic death, as shared by the Olympian on social media.
On her mother's birthday in September, Mercado Martínez shared a memory of the last meal they had together, guanimos con bacalao, a typical Puerto Rican dish, emphasizing the fragility of life.
The Puerto Rico Shooting Association assisted with funeral expenses, including the transportation of her mother's body back to Puerto Rico.
The shooting incident on April 9, 2022, started on Martínez Antongiorgi's block when the men fired shots at a white Acura, believing the man who had interacted with Robinson's girlfriend was inside, according to reports from the AP and The Republican-American.
In the ensuing chaos, another bystander sustained non-fatal injuries. Despite not firing the fatal shot, Robinson was charged with conspiracy for orchestrating the deadly plan. During the trial, his ex-girlfriend, Emily Dyer, testified as a cooperating witness, providing insight into the shooting incident.
Robinson's conviction included charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault, and criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a potential sentence of up to 130 years in prison.
Robinson had previously been offered a 40-year plea deal but chose to go to trial. His sentence of 90 years led to claims of a "severe trial tax."
The other two individuals allegedly involved in the shooting are still awaiting trial, as reported by the AP.
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