Former Houston Football Player Fatally Shot in Parking Garage Dispute

A former college football player from Texas Southern University was fatally shot during an altercation in a Houston apartment parking garage. The incident occurred around 8:15 p.m., prompting police to respond to the Mac 4660 Apartments, approximately a mile from the university. Despite efforts by the Houston Fire Department to save him, 24-year-old Tyler Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Martinez, who played as a defensive tackle for TSU, had gotten into a physical confrontation with 22-year-old Jasper Robinson inside the parking garage. Witnesses reported that during the fight, Martinez had pinned Robinson to the ground but then was walking away when Robinson, with the help of a woman who retrieved a gun from a nearby vehicle, opened fire. Martinez was struck three times in the torso.

Robinson fled the scene initially but later returned and confessed to the shooting. He was arrested on the spot and charged with first-degree murder. Robinson, a student at TSU, who lived in the same complex as Martinez, appeared in court the following day. Prosecutors requested a $250,000 bond, while his defense attorney argued for a lower amount of $75,000, citing his clean criminal record and employment with a local security company.

The judge set Robinson’s bond at $150,000 under conditions that include a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, GPS monitoring, and restrictions on firearms, drugs, and alcohol. Robinson is scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday.

Martinez, a Houston native, played four seasons for TSU from 2019 to 2023. He was known for his contributions on the field, recording 57 tackles, four sacks, and five tackles for loss during his college career, under coach Clarence McKinney.