On the morning of November 13, 2024, Rachael Martinez, 31, and her husband, Jose Medina, 39, were shot and killed near the San Diego County Courthouse in California by an individual they had previously sought a restraining order against. The alleged perpetrator, Christopher Farrell, 26, was later shot and killed during a standoff with law enforcement, during which an officer was wounded.

The couple was discovered in their vehicle on Union Street, a mere block away from the courthouse. They were on their way to court for a restraining order hearing against Farrell when they were killed.

Previously, Martinez had accused Farrell of domestic violence, unlawful confinement, and sexual offenses in a police report filed on October 4, 2024. Subsequent to her report, Farrell was arrested, and an immediate protection order was issued against him. His employment as a security guard with Inter-Con Security, a Metropolitan Transit System contractor, was also terminated.

The initial shooting took place around 8:20 a.m. on that fateful Wednesday. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a man approaching the couple’s vehicle, opening fire, and then fleeing on foot. Approximately 45 minutes later, Farrell encountered officers from the San Diego Harbor Police Department near Kettner Boulevard and Juniper Street, about a mile from the 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 taken to a trauma center and is expected to recover. Farrell was fatally injured when officers returned fire.

Investigators found a semi-automatic handgun, multiple folding knives, a knife sheath, a holster, a tactical flashlight, and several ammunition magazines near the shootout site. Farrell’s vehicle was discovered and seized near 4th Avenue and Ash Street.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl commended the officers’ swift actions, highlighting that their quick response likely prevented further casualties.

Farrell had a brief relationship with Rachael Martinez. Charlene Martinez, Rachael’s sister, expressed that following the police investigation of the alleged sexual assault on Rachael, all of Farrell’s firearms should have been confiscated.

Court records suggest that Martinez began an affair with Farrell in August. Martinez’s husband, Medina, discovered the affair and confronted Farrell in late September. According to Martinez, Farrell responded by persistently calling and texting them, refusing to accept that she was married and had four children with Medina. She also reported that Farrell often threatened to have her husband arrested.

On September 30, Martinez went to Farrell’s apartment to persuade him to leave her family alone. She claimed that upon her arrival, Farrell physically assaulted her and forced her into a sexual act. Martinez reported the assault to the police on October 4, and Farrell was arrested the same day. A $50,000 bond secured his release the next day.

Following his arrest, both Martinez and Medina sought restraining orders against Farrell, which were granted in October. Farrell, however, did not attend either hearing and court documents suggest that he was not properly notified about them.

Despite this, it appears that Farrell was aware of the upcoming hearing on Wednesday, where Martinez planned to request an extension to her restraining order. Tragically, the couple was gunned down before they could enter the courthouse for the 9 a.m. hearing.

A memorial was erected at Union and Ash streets, where the couple was slain. The family gathered to place candles and flowers, and even brought holy water to bless the area.

The couple is survived by their four children, the youngest of whom is under five. Medina worked in construction, supervising a drywall team, and Martinez provided private care for individuals in their homes.

Charlene Martinez and her husband are caring for the four children as they grapple with their own grief. “They can’t fathom that it’s real. I was up until about 3 a.m. last night because the little ones were restless and crying,” Charlene shared.

Martinez and Medina were together for 12 years. Medina was the biological father of the two youngest children and treated Martinez’s older two as his own.