Parents of slain Urbandale officer reflect on 10-year anniversary

A decade of memory for the families of Justin Martin and Anthony Beminio

Ten years have passed since an ambush-style attack in the Des Moines area claimed the lives of two law enforcement officers, leaving a permanent mark on the Urbandale and Des Moines communities. On November 2, 2016, Urbandale police officer Justin Martin was shot and killed at the intersection of Aurora Avenue and 70th Street. Just minutes after that initial violence, Des Moines Police Sergeant Anthony Beminio was killed only blocks away. According to reporting from KCCI, the gunman responsible for the attacks was taken into custody hours later in rural Dallas County.

For the families left behind, the passage of a decade has not erased the reality of that early morning. Jayne and Randy Martin, the parents of Officer Martin, described the profound impact of the moment they learned of their son’s death. The suddenness of the notification remains a central, heavy memory for them.

“Having the police come to your house and, you know, at 3:00 in the morning, was quite something,” Jayne Martin said. Randy Martin

The Martins noted that while time moves quickly, they are still very much living with the loss. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years, but yeah, it’s– we’re there. Time goes fast,” Randy Martin said.

The enduring presence of community support

The immediate aftermath of the 2016 killings saw a massive outpouring of local support for both the Martin and Beminio families. A decade later, that connection to the community has transitioned from a surge of sudden grief into a series of quiet, consistent gestures. The Martins say they still see evidence of that support in small but meaningful ways around their neighborhood.

At the intersection where Officer Martin was killed, flowers are still occasionally left in his honor. Additionally, a memorial located across the street from the Martin family home serves as a permanent fixture of remembrance, featuring Justin Martin’s badge number etched into stone. For Jayne Martin, the reality of the event remains as sharp as ever despite the years that have passed.

The Martins have chosen to focus their remembrance on the character of their son. They use the values he lived by as a guide for how they continue to honor his memory, emphasizing three specific traits: being humble, being kind to people, and helping others.

The loss of two officers in such a short span of time remains a significant moment in the history of Iowa law enforcement. While the legal proceedings regarding the gunman concluded years ago, the human cost continues to be felt by the families and the departments they served.