A Texas landlord who got into an altercation with a former renter is now suspected of murdering the tenant.
Joshua A. Ford, 37, was detained on Wednesday in connection with the deadly shooting of Michael Obryan Martin, 37. Martin was found dead from a gunshot wound inside a San Antonio home in December 2022. According to an arrest report acquired by local CBS affiliate KENS, Ford spoke with authorities shortly following the shooting. At the time, he allegedly acknowledged to shooting Martin in the face while claiming self-defense.
According to police, Martin had recently moved out of Ford’s home. Ford was doing a final check with an anonymous witness on the afternoon of December 7, 2022, when Martin unexpectedly arrived, and the two men got into a fight over rent money.
According to the police report, Martin allegedly stopped paying Ford’s rent for two months before Ford evicted him. Ford told Martin that he needed to return his key after he moved out. Martin turned up for the walk-through inspection, which occurred roughly a month after he moved out.
As the two men argued over the money Martin allegedly owed, they walked around the house and ended up in a utility room. Ford told police that Martin seemed to grasp for a weapon, prompting him to act in self-defense and allegedly shooting him twice. One shot struck him in the face.
Following the shooting, Ford claimed police he unloaded the gun and placed it on a kitchen island before dialing 911.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Ford on Wednesday and charged him with murder. He is being held at the Bexar County Jail without bond.
