The couple killed in the San Diego shooting sought protection from the killer

A couple shot to death in downtown San Diego early Wednesday morning may have been on their way to a courthouse. The husband and wife had separate restraining orders against the wife’s spurned lover, and they were to be taken to court.

The couple did not make it. Rachel Martinez, 31, and Jose Medina, 39, were ambushed in a parked car two blocks from the courthouse. Their alleged killer then engaged in a shootout with port police less than a mile away in Little Italy. A police officer was injured and is recovering. The shooter was mortally wounded.

On Thursday, San Diego police released the names of the couple and their alleged killer, 26-year-old Christopher Farrell. They also told the details of the brutal outing.

According to court documents, Martinez had been romantically involved with Farrell for several weeks before her husband found out and confronted him in late September. Shortly after that, Martinez claimed in the restraining order filing, she met with Farrell to ask him to back off. According to her, it ended in violence.

A few days later, on October 4, she filed a report with the San Diego Police Department about the incident, alleging domestic violence, including wrongful imprisonment and sexual assault. San Diego Police Homicide Lt. Judd Campbell said in a news release Thursday that investigators have obtained an emergency protective order.

That same day, police found Farrell at the Metropolitan Transit System office in Barrio Logan, where he worked as a contract security guard for Inter-Con Security, police said.

Farrell was released and his working firearm was confiscated. He was booked into the San Diego County Jail.

However, as the investigation continued, “there was insufficient evidence and corroboration in the case to move forward immediately,” Campbell said.

Three days later, on October 7, a judge granted Martinez a temporary restraining order against Farrell. The next day, Martinez’s husband obtained a separate temporary restraining order against Farrell. Court documents show that an attempt by sheriff’s deputies to serve Farrell with both restraining orders at work failed — he had already lost his job.

Campbell said it was unclear at the time of the shooting whether Farrell had been served with a restraining order.

On Wednesday, Martinez was scheduled for a 9 a.m. restraining order hearing. It wasn’t until after 8:22 a.m. that 911 calls started coming in.

Callers said the men had been shot while sitting in a car on Union Street, about two blocks north of the courthouse. The shooter, wearing a green shirt and blue jeans, ran away.

The police went on a search, and a helicopter flew over the area, announcing his description. A passerby spotted Farrell hiding behind an electrical box near Juniper Street and Kettner Boulevard and spotted Harbor Police officers.

Four Harbor Police officers approached the man. Campbell said Farrell appeared to be using an electrical box as a shield, pointed the gun at the officers and opened fire. One was hit in the thigh. Two bullets hit the patrol car of the port police.

The two officers returned fire and Farrell was hit several times. Campbell said the entire encounter lasted less than 90 seconds.

Farrell died in hospital less than an hour later.

Behind the electrical box, investigators found a semi-automatic handgun and an empty magazine on the ground. Three more magazines were attached to Farrell’s pants.

Several folding knives and a tactical flashlight were also found.

The wounded officer, who did not open fire, continues to recover, Harbor Police Chief Magda Fernandez said in a statement Thursday afternoon. His name has not been released.

Fernandez said “his family is grateful for the support they are receiving and respectfully requests privacy at this time while they process and begin to heal from this traumatic incident.”

The officer previously worked for the San Diego Police Department for about a year, but was hired by the Harbor Police Department in September, Campbell said.

The names of the officers who opened fire on Farrell were also not released, but San Diego police officials said they were six- and nine-year veterans of the department.

The couple’s families have also asked for privacy, Campbell said. Court documents show that Martinez and Medina had four children between the ages of 3 and 15.

By Thursday afternoon, a small memorial with candles, flowers and offerings of water and fruit had appeared on Union Street not far from where the couple died. The candles were lit.

Originally published: November 14, 2024 at 4:56 PM PST