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Background: News footage of the scene in Tolleson, Ariz., after the Nov. 22 shooting (KPHO). Inset: Luis Garcia (Maricopa County Sheriff”s Office).
An Arizona man has been taken into custody following a shooting incident involving his older brother. The suspect, Luis Garcia, believed his sibling was involved with his wife.
The incident took place on Saturday at a local restaurant, where Garcia, aged 42, was attending a family birthday celebration. Tensions rose after Garcia confronted his 45-year-old brother. According to court documents cited by CBS affiliate KPHO, the dispute escalated when Garcia viewed a video suggesting his wife and brother were engaged in “some kind of relationship.”
Amidst the heated exchange, Garcia allegedly brandished a firearm and shot his brother in the abdomen.
Garcia’s wife, who had left the event to give her parents a ride home, was en route back to the restaurant when she attempted to contact both her husband and his brother, receiving no responses. On a subsequent call to her brother-in-law, she overheard sounds of a struggle in the background.
Upon her return to the scene, Garcia’s wife discovered her brother-in-law lying on the ground, wounded. The brother’s wife also found him in this dire state. He was subsequently transported to the hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive the ordeal.
According to police, the brother’s wife said alcohol might have been involved in the fight. Both women told police that they saw Garcia leave the restaurant in his GMC truck.
Surveillance video from a neighboring business caught the audio of the argument and the two shots. After the second shot, a woman’s voice was heard saying, “What are you doing? You just shot your brother!” A truck similar to Garcia’s GMC was then seen on the video driving out of the parking lot.
Police were able to track the truck to an apartment in Phoenix after they were unable to find Garcia at his home in Avondale. Garcia was arrested outside the apartment. During the arrest, police allegedly found a gun and a small bag of cocaine.
Garcia was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm within city limits, and possession of narcotics. He is being held at the Maricopa County Jail on $750,000 cash bond. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 1.