By Dan Murphy
Who killed the legendary drug dealer turned informant Alpo Martinez? Was it friends or family of Rich Porter, Alpo’s partner in the 1980’s Harlem drug trade that Alpo murdered? Was it one of the many drug dealers that Alpo ratted on to avoid the death penalty? How about someone whose girl Alpo slept with?
According to NYPD sources, it was none of these old beefs that lead to the death of Alberto Martinez on Halloween night 2021. Shakeem Parker, 27, of W. 149th St., has been charged with murder and gun possession for Alpo’s killing, at 230 am on Oct. 31, where on W. 152nd street.
Parker was already in custody on Rikers Island for another gun charge and has a lenghty criminal record, including convictions for burglary, drug possession and robbery. The new gun and murder charges against Alpo could put Parker away for life.
According to The Daily News and other accounts through NYPD sources, Alpo ticked Parker off one night last year driving his motocycle too fast and too close to Parker, who was a pedestrian. Parker was hit by Alpo’s bike but not serious enough to result in serious injury.
But it was more than enough to tick off Parker, “who didn’t give a crap and was a lot like Alpo. Two guys who wouldn’t back down,” said one source with knowledge of what happenbed.
And one night, around 320 am, Parker was haning outside of a bodega when he saw Alpo drive by in his red truck. “it was just dumb luck that he saw Alpo and Parker was almost always carrying his gun,” said the Harlem source.
Parker followed Alpo and shot him dead. Apparently, somebody ratted Parker out to get a deal on their own charge. After the NYPD got the tip on Alpo’s killer, they arrested Parker, found a gun on him, and were able to hold him on the gun charge while they built up evidence in the Alpo murder.
Parker’s cell phone pointed to his location on the night of the shooting. The NYPD then viewed surveilance tapes from the bodega which found Parker hanging out and spotting Alpo driving by.
Alpo Martinez was released into the witness protection program in 2015 after serving most of a 35-year sentence on drug and murder charges. He was shipped to a small town in Maine, where he lived for 4 years under his new name Abraham Martinez.
Eventually, Alpo couldn’t stay away from Harlem, and started to take the 6 hour drive down I-95 from Maine to NYC on weekends, eventually moving out of his 2 bedroom Maine apartment last year.
Alpo legend grew after the 2002 movie “Paid in Full” immortalized him and his two drug partners, Porter and Azie Faison. Faison is the only member of the trio still alive, and his conversations on Vlad TV, are the best on the subject.
Azie was correct when he thought that Alpo wasn’t killed for his past 35 years ago, but some recent dustup. Alpo was a notorious womanzier, and some had speculated that he was sleeping with a Harlem girl who had another boyfriend or husband.
The Legends Lounge on Adam Clayton Boulevard in Harlem, was the last place that Alpo had a drink before he was killed. Parker was indicted on Feb. 7 for the murder and gun charge. He is being held in Riker’s on $1 Million Bail.
Alpo was back to dealing drugs on the night of his death. After being shot, he was seen throwing out packets of heroin from his truck as he tried to get away after being shot several times.
