Rachael Martinez, Jose Medina Obituary, Death – Authorities have identified the victims and suspect involved in a fatal shooting that occurred near the downtown San Diego County courthouse on Wednesday morning. The victims were 31-year-old Rachael Martinez and her 39-year-old husband, Jose Medina. The suspect, 26-year-old Christopher Farrell, allegedly opened fire on the couple before being killed in a subsequent shootout with police.
According to the San Diego Police Department, the shooting took place just before 8:30 a.m. on Union Street in the Core-Columbia district, near the courthouse. Martinez and Medina were sitting in their car when Farrell approached and shot them with a handgun. After the attack, Farrell fled the scene, heading north on Ash Street while reloading his weapon. Martinez and Medina were pronounced dead at the scene.
About 45 minutes later, as a police helicopter circled overhead and broadcasted a description of the suspect, a bystander alerted the Port of San Diego Harbor Police to Farrell’s location near Kettner Boulevard and West Juniper Street in Little Italy. Officers approached Farrell, who was hiding behind a large electrical box, seemingly using it as cover. Farrell then allegedly fired on the officers, injuring one and hitting a harbor police patrol car with two rounds.
In response, two officers returned fire, fatally wounding Farrell. The entire confrontation, from the time officers encountered Farrell to the shooting, lasted less than 90 seconds. Farrell was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The officer who was wounded in the exchange of gunfire sustained a hip injury and was rushed to a trauma center. He was expected to survive. This officer, who had been with the Harbor Police Department since September, was participating in field training at the time of the shootout. Before joining the Harbor Police, he had served with the San Diego Police Department for about a year.
Investigators found several items at the scene where Farrell had fired on the officers, including a semiautomatic handgun, shell casings, folding knives, and an empty ammunition magazine. Farrell was also carrying a knife sheath and three additional ammunition magazines.
It was later revealed that Farrell had been accused of domestic violence by Martinez just a week prior. She had filed a police report detailing allegations of false imprisonment and sex crimes, which led to his arrest. Farrell, who worked as a security guard for a company contracted by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, was arrested and terminated from his position when authorities contacted him. His work firearm was confiscated at that time.
Last Thursday, Martinez had filed for a temporary restraining order against Farrell, though it is unclear whether he had been formally served with the order. The hearing for the restraining order was scheduled for the same day as the fatal shooting. Authorities believe that Martinez and Medina were in the area to attend the hearing.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement has urged the public to come forward with any information regarding the case. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities piecing together the details of this tragic incident.