Damian Martinez dies in fatal Mission Valley hotel shooting
Fatal Mission Valley hotel shooting death of Damian Martinez – Obituary
Nineteen-year-old Damian Martinez of El Monte was identified as the victim in a deadly shooting that took place Monday night at a hotel in Mission Valley, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Authorities responded to reports of gunfire at the Handlery Hotel on 950 Hotel Circle North around 8:20 p.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered Martinez in a hallway with at least one gunshot wound to his upper torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second victim, a 23-year-old Hispanic man, was also shot but survived. He was found outside the hotel lobby with a gunshot wound to his upper body and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Police arrested the suspected shooter, identified as 29-year-old Kevin Larin of Northridge, in a dark-colored F-150 truck in the hotel parking lot. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the San Diego County Jail on suspicion of murder.
Investigators revealed that Martinez, the second victim, and Larin were in San Diego on a work trip and knew each other prior to the incident. Larin has retained a private attorney and is scheduled for arraignment on March 20.
