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A Murder Story Like No Other: No Hidden Faces, No Apologies
posted (August 2, 2012)
When we left you last night, it was with the bad news that another man had been killed - the fifth in the city in four days. It happened on Linda Vista Street - which connects Lake Independence to the Western Highway.

It is a murder like too many others, senseless violence among young black southside males. But our story on it is unlike any other, because it's straight up: no one hides their face, no one apologizes for the conduct of others and the intended target tells us simple and plain how he dodged death - even when it came from the hand of his own cousin. Daniel Ortiz has this report:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
At around 7 last night, 7News arrived on the scene to find the body of a man lying in the street. The police already had the area cordoned off, and the Scenes of Crime personnel were already at their work.

They eventually brought a member of the public close by to identify him, and this woman burst out in tears of hurt and rage - the distress visible.

While processing the scene, the authorities discovered a firearm, which you see the man photographing to the far right of your screen - more visible with the number 3 marker right next to it.

When they finished, the body was removed and taken to the morgue, ending this terrible scene. But, we didn't find out until today that the deceased allegedly went to Linda Vista Street to try to murder 28 year-old Mark Godoy.

He spoke to us from his sick bed in the KHMH, where he was recovering from gunshot injuries he received from that attack.

Mark Steven Godoy II - Shooting Victim
"Last night between 6:30-7:30 I was on my mother steps where she was socializing with all of us. After that about 15 minutes into the socializing I heard my brother yelled run a gunman at out gate. So I stand up and when I stand I fell off the verandah and the gunman run towards me and fired a shot which hit me in my chest. After that his gun kept jamming."

The gunman wanted to be sure, and so, he retreated momentarily only to come back to make a second attempt on Godoy's life.

Mark Steven Godoy II - Shooting Victim
"He fled and came back but the gun did not work sufficiently. So he decide to fled the scene completely."

But the damage was done, and Godoy was hit twice by the gunfire.

Mark Steven Godoy II - Shooting Victim
"I got one in my upper leg which broke my bone and one in my chest. The one in my chest is not too major like what the doctor said, but the one in my leg - it broke my bone, so I don't know if I could be walking again."

There were other members of Godoy's family there, but the gunman came specifically to attack him

Mark Steven Godoy II - Shooting Victim
"My brother and one on my friend were much closer to me where he could have attack them, but he made his advance straight at me."

Very little information is known, but when the gunman decided to give up on his attack, he was met by enemy gunfire, which - according to reports -killed him before he could escape, right on Linda Vista Street.

Godoy believes that it is one of his own relatives who came to execute a hit.

Mark Steven Godoy II - Shooting Victim
"About a week ago the policemen came by my yard and told me that money was up for my head. They ask me to move from my yard and I told them that I didn't do anyone anything for me to run from anyone, if they want me I will die at my yard. I will not run from anything that I am not involved in."

Daniel Ortiz
"Do you know specifically why anyone would be targeting you as you said that the police indicated to you? This person supposedly came on a hit to take your life. Do you know why would someone want to do something like that to you?"

Mark Steven Godoy II - Shooting Victim
"In my past I didn't harm or do anyone any wrong thing so I don't know why someone would put a hit on my head like that. My father told me that it was one of his cousin's sons that came to the yard and shot me; one of my own relative, like 3rd or 4th cousin."

Daniel Ortiz
"They also call him "biggs," you don't know anyone by that name, Tevin "biggs" Ferguson?"

Mark Steven Godoy II - Shooting Victim
"If I see him from a picture then I could recognize him but the name don't put a clue to me. But the last name Ferguson - I know I have some relative that are Ferguson."

19 year-old Tevin "Biggs" Ferguson - to be precise, and 7News spoke to his family to try to understand why he would take on the job of a hit man.

They told us that they are pained by his tragic loss, but it is not unexpected.

Catherine Robinson - Mother of Deceased
"The only thing I could do was cry. Any mother would cry to see their son on the ground dead."

Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"Did you ever expect that you would be in this position today?"

Catherine Robinson - Mother of Deceased
"Yes."

Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"Why would you say that ma'am?"

Catherine Robinson - Mother of Deceased
"Because for a couple of months now he was hanging with the wrong crowd. I talked to him and tried to advise him to back off from the crowd who he was with but he just didn't want to listen to me. So I was expecting this to happen to him."

Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"Last night ma'am, I know it's difficult but a gun was found beside him. Information coming out says that he went to shoot after someone who probably may have been his relative or unknown to him. Have you been hearing that same information?"

Catherine Robinson - Mother of Deceased
"I heard that same information too but I don't know if it's true because if that is what he went to do, it shock me because I didn't know he is deep down in it. It shocks me. According to what the police say is that he went to kill somebody. I don't know if that is true, that is what they are telling me."

Jerriann Campbell - Girlfriend of Deceased
"Tevin was calm and humble because he just lost his job and from there he just turns into a different person. He starts to hang around the wrong crowd, but I didn't know how deep he was in it, so I never expected this."

Catherine Robinson - Mother of Deceased
"Everybody is taking it hard because in my family he is the first person to die. There are 10 brothers and sisters and then for one to go just like that it is hard."

Godoy also told us that he was very close friends with Myrick Gladden and Keith Lewis, both of whom were killed in gun violence in June. Police have no one detained for the murder of Tevin Ferguson.

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