Gunman accused of firing on police, investigators sought

Authorities asked the public Tuesday for help in tracking down a felon suspected of shooting a private investigator and firing on police on separate occasions to evade arrest in the South Bay.

The first of the two shootings allegedly committed by 36-year-old Christopher Templo Marquez over the last three weeks left the private investigator with non-lethal bullet wounds in Chula Vista, authorities reported.

The second shooting did not injure the officers, who returned fire as the suspect made his escape by running across Interstate 5 in National City.

The shootout with police occurred about 2:45 a.m. Monday, after the driver of a stolen car Marquez was riding in was pulled over outside a Jack in the Box on Roosevelt Avenue near Seventh Street, National City police Lt. David Bavencoff said.

As the officers ordered the three occupants of the Honda Civic to surrender for questioning, Marquez jumped out of the car and ran off, with two officers giving chase, according to Bavencoff.

After bolting onto a nearby onramp from East Seventh Street to north I-5, Marquez allegedly turned and fired several shots at the officers, prompting them to return fire.

The suspect then ran onto the freeway and across the lanes to the west. It was unclear if he had been struck by the officers’ gunfire, Bavencoff said.

Police fanned out through the area but were unable to locate Marquez.

On the evening of March 15, Marquez allegedly opened fire on private investigators trying to take him into custody outside a home on East J Street in Chula Vista, wounding one of them, according to police. The victim was treated for non-life-threatening bullet wounds.

The shooting led to a 10-hour police standoff that ended when SWAT officers stormed the residence and found it unoccupied.

Marquez, who has prior convictions for burglary, robbery, auto theft, receiving stolen property and drug crimes, is a 5-foot-8-inch, roughly 190-pound Filipino with tattoos on the right side of his face and his chest.

He is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone who might be able to help authorities capture Marquez was asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.