By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
RUSSELLVILLE — What began as a dispute over a canceled DoorDash order ended in tragedy Friday evening when a delivery driver was stabbed multiple times and a customer was fatally shot by a Russellville police officer, authorities said.
According to investigators, DoorDash driver Yobani Y. Miguel Diego arrived at a Russellville home after a food order had been canceled and later reordered. Diego said the restaurant instructed him to deliver the original order despite the cancellation.
Diego said the customer, identified by authorities as Eric Roman Martinez, became upset after demanding two orders while only one meal had been delivered. As tensions escalated, Diego said he feared for his life and asked his wife to call police.
Investigators said officers arrived to find Martinez allegedly attacking Diego with a knife. During the confrontation, police said Martinez also injured an officer.
Authorities said the officer then fired his weapon after determining Martinez posed an immediate deadly threat. Martinez died at the scene.
Diego was hospitalized with multiple stab wounds and is expected to face a lengthy recovery.
Martinez’s family said they are seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter. His mother, Erica Meza, said conflicting witness accounts have left the family uncertain about what happened before police arrived.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency or other appropriate authorities are expected to investigate the officer-involved shooting, which remains ongoing. Officials have not released additional details, and no determination has been made regarding the officer’s actions.