A man shot and killed early Friday morning in Lemon Grove was identified Sunday as a Marine sergeant stationed at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.
Sheriff's deputies spotted a car parked in the middle of the street on Pacific Avenue, near the Lemon Grove Square Shopping Center shortly after midnight Friday, sheriff's Lt. Rich Williams said.
Inside, they found Sgt. Christopher Truax Jr., 21, bleeding from a gunshot wound, and a woman. Truax soon stopped breathing and despite CPR efforts from first responders, he was pronounced dead around 12:39 a.m., Williams said.
"“We join Sergeant Christopher Truax's family in mourning the loss of a loved one." said Lt. Col. James Bauch, commanding officer MWSS 373. "He was a valued Brother-in-Arms to all who served with him and will be missed. We wish them comfort as they navigate the difficult days ahead."
No bullet holes or shell casing were found in the car and the woman, who was in the driver's seat, was not considered a suspect, he said.
Truax was from Horseheads, New York and was a food service specialist with the Marine Wing Support Squadron-373 based out of MCAS Miramar.
He joined the Marine Corp in July 2014 and had previously deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He had been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
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He was married and has a one-year-old son.
"I look up to the sky and talk to you, what I would give just to hear you talk back," his wife Alexia Truax wrote in a Facebook post. "My love your son and I love you way more then (sic) you could ever imagine."
San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide, Williams said.
Detectives have no motive or suspect in the case. Both the San Diego Police Department and Naval Criminal Investigative Service were investigating.
Anyone with information about this incident can call the Sheriff's Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
