Remembering Jaylen: Community mourns death of young basketball star

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. —Jaylen Martinez, the son of Ciera Martinez and former VCU basketball player Joey Rodriguez, died unexpectedly on Monday.

Jaylen was a rising star in the AAU basketball community and had led Liberty Middle School to a county championship while averaging 27 points per game.

He was set to attend Benedictine this fall.

"It is with deep sorrow that I share the heartbreaking news that Jaylen Martinez, an incoming Cadet of our Class of 2029, died suddenly on Monday. We do not have further details to share at this time, but we ask that you keep Jaylen’s family in your prayers," Benedictine College Preparatory Head of School Greg Lilly posted on social media.

The school's daily Mass Tuesday was offered in Jaylen’s memory.

"Thank you to all that attended this morning's beautiful service," Lilly wrote. "We will continue to hold Jaylen and his loved ones in our hearts in the days ahead."

Martinez family photo

Jaylen was a fixture around the VCU basketball program over the years and appeared at the Siegel Center last fall when VCU raised his father's jersey to the rafters.

"The VCU Basketball family is heartbroken by the sudden passing of Jaylen Martinez. A rising star in the local basketball scene and a VCU Ram since birth, Jaylen has grown up around our program being raised by his mother, Ciera, a VCU alumna," VCU vice president and director of athletics Ed McLaughlin said in a statement. "His competitor's spirit and love of the game endeared him to everyone here who had the opportunity to get to know him through Ciera and his father, VCU Basketball alumnus Joey Rodriguez. There are no adequate words to soothe his loved ones' pain, but the entire VCU Basketball community stands ready to provide whatever love and support we can to lift the Martinez and Rodriguez families during this devastating time."

The impact of the sudden loss was felt across town at the University of Richmond, where men's basketball coach Chris Mooney called the death devastating.

"The Richmond Spiders would like to extend our most sincere condolences to Ciera Martinez and Joey Rodriguez for the tragic loss of their son, Jaylen Martinez," Coach Mooney said in a statement posted on social media. "We are heartbroken for their loss. I have known Jaylen for years and his extraordinary personality and energy Impacted all of those he touched. This is devastating for our entire community. We pray for everyone impacted, especially Joey and Ciera."

Ciera Martinez told the Richmond Times-Dispatch she did not yet know the circumstances surrounding her son's death but said she had spoken to him on the phone minutes before he died.

Henrico Police confirmed they were called to a home in the 6400 block of Grey Rock Lane Monday afternoon, where they found a deceased juvenile. Police said the preliminary investigation indicated the child died from an accidental self-inflicted shooting.

Martinez told the RTD that Jaylen was her best friend.

"He was my world."

Friends setup a GoFundMe to help Jaylen's family. Jaylen's mother shared that a viewing will be on July 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Woody Funeral Home on Parham Road. His celebration of life will be on Wednesday, July 2, at 11:30 a.m. at the Henrico Sports & Event Center.

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