On the evening of July 11, 2022, a sense of normalcy was shattered in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan. Erni Garcia, a 24-year-old male, was standing in front of a bodega on Sherman Avenue when his life was abruptly cut short. At approximately 8:35 p.m., a white BMW pulled up, and a man wearing a surgical mask and a winter coat emerged from the vehicle. The man fired a shot, striking Garcia in the chest, before speeding away.
Emergency services were quickly summoned to the scene where they found Garcia gravely wounded. He was rushed to Saint Barnabas Hospital, but despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries. The brazen shooting left the community in shock and police with a difficult case to solve. For 19 months, the investigation into Erni Garcia's murder continued, a period marked by a search for answers and justice for his family.
A significant breakthrough in the cold case came in February 2024. Investigators identified a suspect, 23-year-old Juan Peguero of Yonkers. Through the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, including U.S. Marshals, Peguero was located and apprehended in the Dominican Republic. He was extradited back to Manhattan on February 15, 2024, to face the consequences of his alleged actions.
Upon his return to New York, Juan Peguero was formally charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the fatal shooting of Erni Garcia. While an arrest has been made, the motive behind the killing remains undisclosed by authorities as the investigation continues.
