A 29-year-old man, Kevin Larin, has been accused of a violent incident at a San Diego hotel, leaving one person dead and another seriously injured.
On March 3, Larin allegedly opened fire in the lobby of the Handlery Hotel, killing 19-year-old Damian Martinez and wounding a 23-year-old man in a separate incident outside. The victims were in San Diego for work, according to investigators.
Larin, from Northridge, appeared in a San Diego courtroom for his arraignment, where he pleaded not guilty to a range of charges, including first-degree murder and assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
Larin’s attorney, Jay Monico, expressed his concern about receiving all the evidence in the case, stating that they would review every piece of evidence before formulating a defense. The attorney also noted that the surveillance footage from the hotel’s extensive security system and potential body-worn camera footage from responding officers would be crucial in this case.
It’s unclear what motivated the shooting, and Monico could not confirm whether self-defense would be a part of Larin’s legal strategy. He described the situation as unfortunate for everyone involved, including Larin, the victims, and their families.
Larin is being held without bail and is set to appear in court again on May 22. If convicted of first-degree murder, he faces a minimum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.