Christopher Martin, a man with a history of assaulting individuals at transit stations, has been sentenced to 23 and a half years in prison for the murder of Shawn Grenzebach, who was fatally struck in the head with a hammer at a downtown Seattle bus stop last year. Martin, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and prosecutors described the attack as unprovoked and brutal.
According to witness testimonies, Martin was seen waving a hammer and yelling at people in the area of 4th Avenue and Pike Street. He then approached Grenzebach, 53, at the bus stop and struck him in the head with the hammer. Shockingly, Martin showed no remorse as he stepped over Grenzebach’s unconscious body, snatched his backpack, and fled the scene.
Coincidentally, police officers conducting narcotics surveillance in the vicinity witnessed the attack and swiftly apprehended Martin just yards away from the bus stop. The prompt arrest prevented any further harm to the public.
During the sentencing hearing at King County Superior Court, Judge Sandra Widlan deemed the proposed sentence as fair and just. She acknowledged Martin’s expressions of remorse for his actions. “I do find that the proposed sentence is a fair and just one,” Judge Widlan stated. “It’s clear to me that you have genuine feelings of remorse for what happened.”
Prior to the tragic murder, Martin had an extensive criminal record, including an armed robbery at a transit center in Renton and a robbery at a transit stop in Seattle in 2022, during which he threatened to kill someone. These prior offenses painted a concerning pattern of violence.
In court, Martin expressed remorse and apologized to the victim and the victim’s family. However, his claims of fearing for his life due to Grenzebach’s use of a saw were contradicted by investigators. They confirmed that Grenzebach did not pose a threat to Martin before the attack took place. There may have been mental illness issues that have not been discussed or disclosed.
Martin’s defense attorney, along with prosecutors, agreed on a recommended sentence of 282 months (23 and a half years) in prison, to be followed by 36 months of community custody upon release.
