SAN DIEGO, CA – A tragic shooting incident at a Mission Valley hotel in San Diego this week left one young man dead and another injured. The victim has been identified as 19-year-old Damian Martinez from El Monte, Los Angeles County. The shooting took place in the hallway of the Handlery Hotel on Hotel Circle North on Monday night around 8:30 p.m.
According to the San Diego Police Department, patrol officers responded to reports of gunfire and discovered Martinez deceased in the hallway. The second victim, a 23-year-old man who has not been named, was found outside the hotel lobby with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Police officials revealed that the alleged shooter fled the scene in a dark-colored truck. The authorities were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle in the hotel parking lot shortly after the shooting. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Kevin Casey Larin from Northridge, surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. Larin has been charged with murder and attempted murder and is currently being held at San Diego Central Jail.
Investigators have determined that Martinez, Larin, and the injured victim were co-workers and had traveled to San Diego together for work. Despite this information, the police have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the shooting.
The tragic incident at the Handlery Hotel has shocked the community, raising concerns and questions about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover more details about the events leading up to the violence.
The loss of a young life in such a senseless act of violence has left many in mourning, as friends and family of the victims struggle to come to terms with the tragic outcome of what should have been a routine work trip to San Diego. As the investigation unfolds, the community waits for answers and justice to be served for the victims of this heartbreaking crime.