Landlord Faces Murder Charge After Fatal 2022 Confrontation
A San Antonio landlord has been arrested and charged with murder more than two years after allegedly shooting dead his former tenant during a heated argument at a rental property.
Joshua A. Ford, 37, was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with the December 2022 fatal shooting of Michael Obryan Martin. The arrest comes despite Ford having reportedly called police himself immediately after the incident.
The Fatal December Confrontation
According to arrest documents obtained from the San Antonio Police Department, the tragic incident unfolded on December 7, 2022 at a property owned by Ford.
Martin had previously lived at the residence for approximately one year but had been evicted after failing to pay rent for two months, according to Ford's claims in the police report.
About a month after moving out, Ford contacted Martin and requested he return to the property to surrender his key. Ford and another witness were conducting a walk-through inspection when Martin unexpectedly arrived at the residence.
Argument Escalates to Deadly Shooting
Authorities state that an argument quickly erupted between the two men as they moved through the home, eventually reaching the utility room.
Ford told detectives that Martin made a movement toward his body as if reaching for a weapon, prompting Ford to open fire. The landlord allegedly shot Martin twice in the face, with the victim being pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, Ford reportedly unloaded his firearm and placed it on the kitchen island before leaving the property and calling emergency services.
Delayed Arrest Raises Questions
The two-year gap between the incident and Ford's arrest has raised questions about the investigation timeline. Despite immediately reporting the shooting to police in 2022, Ford was not taken into custody until this week.
He is now being held without bond at Bexar County Jail, facing a murder charge for his former tenant's death. The case continues to develop as authorities piece together the events leading to the fatal confrontation.
The San Antonio Police Department has not publicly commented on what new evidence or developments led to Ford's arrest more than two years after the shooting occurred.
