NYU film student says he had nothing to do with the gun battle that erupted around him

Updated with additional arraignment information.

An NYU film student pursuing a career in Hollywood was ordered held in lieu of $35,000 bail today on charges he was one of three people who got into a gun battle with police in Dorchester last night.

Justin Martin, 21, whose mother and sister live in Milton, was arrested on Nottingham Street last night on two charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and carrying a loaded firearm.

A 17-year-old was charged with actually firing at police and was ordered held in lieu of $150,000 bail, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, which adds that a second teenager who was detained last night after the gunfire has not been charged.

According to Assistant Suffolk County DA William Kettlewell, Martin, currently living in Studio City, CA., was one of three men who fled as police investigated gunfire in the area of Bowdoin Avenue and Nottingham Street around 10:15 p.m. Kettlewell said Martin had a gun in his hand as he ran and that he aimed it at police after he stumbled and fell in front of 58 Bowdoin, after which he "pointed [the gun] directly at officers" before getting up and running again - as officers had to dodge a fusillade from at least one of the other two men. Police returned fire; nobody was injured in the exchange.

According to the DA's office:

The juvenile fired upon police as they pursued Martin in the area of 75 Bowdoin St. Martin turned toward officers after running on Nottingham Street and an officer fired one shot. Martin was then taken to the ground and placed in handcuffs.

The juvenile co-defendant and a second 17-year-old Dorchester male then ran around the corner from Nottingham Street onto Bowdoin Avenue. Concerned for their safety after an unknown gunman opened fire a moment earlier, officers searched the two and found a .25 caliber Raven Arms on the juvenile defendant. It was found to be loaded with five live rounds of ammunition.

Officers located a Smith & Wesson Model 225 handgun loaded with one round in the magazine and one in the chamber was located in the area where Martin allegedly pointed a gun at officers. Shell casings were found in the area Martin was initially observed by officers after the sound of shots fired; additional shell casings were located in the area where a second gunman fired at officers as they pursued Martin.

Martin's attorney, Lawrence Kelly, argued Martin's innocence, saying he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. "Another individual fired shots in their general direction, not this young man," he said. He said police did not actually find a gun on him.

He said Martin is currently on leave from NYU so that he can further his acting career in Hollywood - where he has appeared in some 20 movies, dating back to when he was just 7. He asked for bail of $5,000 to $10,000 and no house confinement.

Innocent, etc.