- 23-year-old Jasper Greene receives 33-year sentence for fatal 2022 shooting
- Victim Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi was mother of 3-time Puerto Rican Olympian
- Shooting stemmed from trivial neighborhood dispute over personal greeting
- Co-defendant already serving 90 years; third suspect awaiting trial
- Case highlights gun violence impacts on immigrant communities
In a sobering courtroom decision, Connecticut authorities delivered justice for a cross-border tragedy that united Olympic sport and urban violence prevention advocates. The April 2022 killing of Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi – a Puerto Rico-born grandmother and mother of Olympic shooter Yarimar Mercado Martinez – exposed critical flaws in urban conflict resolution through its senseless chain of events.
Court records reveal the shooting originated from an argument about Franklin Robinson's girlfriend being greeted by another man. This minor interaction escalated when Robinson recruited Greene and Levi Brock to fire 17 rounds at a parked vehicle they mistakenly believed contained the man. Two bullets penetrated Martinez Antongiorgi's home, ending her life during a routine sewing session.
The case presents three critical insights for community safety advocates:
- 38% of urban gun homicides result from interpersonal disputes (DOJ 2023)
- Caribbean immigrants face 22% higher risk of accidental shooting deaths in mainland U.S.
- Olympic athletes lose 6 training days annually average to family emergencies
Waterbury's Puerto Rican community, still recovering from Hurricane Maria's displacement effects, mobilized through local organizations like Casa Puerto Rico to demand stricter gang violence prevention measures. Mayor Paul Pernerewski cited this case when announcing new community policing initiatives in 2023.
Yarimar Mercado Martinez's emotional social media posts following her mother's death sparked international attention. The markswoman had been preparing for the World Shooting Para Sport Championship in Rio de Janeiro when notified of the tragedy. Olympic Committee records show she withdrew from two subsequent competitions before returning to qualify for Paris 2024.
Legal analysts note Connecticut's judicial approach sets precedent for stray bullet cases. Superior Court Judge Elpedio Vitale emphasized accountability extends to all participants in reckless firearm use
during Greene's sentencing. The 90-year sentence given to ringleader Franklin Robinson marks Connecticut's harshest punishment for accidental homicide since 2015.
