San Diego, CA — A fatal shooting at a San Diego hotel earlier this week has resulted in the death of a 19-year-old man and the wounding of another, officials confirmed. The incident occurred at the Handlery Hotel located in the 900 block of Hotel Circle North.
Late Monday evening, San Diego police received reports of gunfire erupting at the hotel. Upon arrival around 8:30 p.m., officers discovered Damian Martinez, a resident of El Monte, California, deceased in a hotel hallway. Meanwhile, a second victim, a 23-year-old man, was found outside the hotel lobby with gunshot injuries that were determined to be non-life-threatening. His identity has not been disclosed.
Shortly after the shooting, police officers located a dark-colored truck in the hotel parking lot. The truck was reportedly associated with the suspected gunman, who was found inside the vehicle by authorities. Following his discovery, the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Kevin Casey Larin from Northridge, California, surrendered to the police without any resistance.
Larin has been arrested and was booked into San Diego Central Jail under suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
As detectives delve into the case, they have ascertained that Larin, Martinez, and the injured man were colleagues, all of whom were in San Diego for work-related purposes. Although the initial investigation has provided some details, the underlying motive for the shooting remains unclear.
This violent encounter has particularly shaken the community and raised concerns over security measures at local hotels. With San Diego being a bustling tourist destination, local businesses and hotel operators are reassessing their safety protocols to prevent such episodes in the future.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement officials are calling for any witnesses or individuals with relevant information to come forward to aid in the resolution of this case. The police hope that additional testimonies will shed more light on the circumstances leading up to the tragic incident, helping to determine the sequence of events and perhaps the motive behind the attack.
This incident has left the local community mourning the loss of a young life and anxious about security in public spaces, reminding residents and visitors alike of the need for vigilance even in presumed safe environments.