A married couple was fatally shot in their vehicle near the San Diego (California) County Courthouse on Wednesday morning, November 13, 2024, allegedly by a man against whom they had sought a restraining order. The suspect was later killed in a confrontation with police, during which an officer was injured.
The victims, identified as Rachael Martinez, 31, and her husband, Jose Medina, 39, were found deceased in their car on Union Street, just a block from the courthouse.
Authorities believe they were en route to a restraining order hearing against the suspect, 26-year-old Christopher Farrell. Martinez had previously filed a police report accusing Farrell of domestic violence, false imprisonment, and sex crimes on October 4, 2024.
Following her report, an emergency protective order was obtained. Farrell was arrested and terminated from his position as a security guard with Inter-Con Security, a contractor for the Metropolitan Transit System.
The initial shooting occurred around 8:20 a.m. on Wednesday. Witnesses reported seeing a man approach the couple’s vehicle and open fire before fleeing the scene on foot. Approximately 45 minutes later, officers from the San Diego Harbor Police Department encountered Farrell near Kettner Boulevard and Juniper Street, about a mile from the initial crime scene.
During the confrontation, Farrell allegedly shot a Harbor Police officer in the hip. The officer, a three-month member of the department undergoing field training, was transported to a trauma center and is expected to recover. In the ensuing exchange, officers returned fire, fatally wounding Farrell.
Investigators recovered Farrell’s semi-automatic handgun near the site of the shootout, along with multiple folding knives, a knife sheath, a holster, a tactical flashlight, and several ammunition magazines. His vehicle was located and impounded near 4th Avenue and Ash Street.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl praised the officers’ prompt actions, noting that their quick response likely prevented further loss of life.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities reviewing the sequence of events leading up to the shootings. Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Diego Police Department.