Francisco Guadalupe Garcia, a 21-year-old Latino, was tragically shot and killed on November 9, 2014, in the 13200 block of Dronfield Avenue in Sylmar, Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, the incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. Garcia was leaving a party and standing on the sidewalk with other people when two cars stopped nearby. A Latino man exited a dark-colored SUV, smashed a beer bottle on the ground, and yelled at Garcia.
The man then walked to a white sedan that was behind the SUV, retrieved a gun, and began shooting. Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:30 a.m. Authorities indicated that Garcia was shot over a "simmering dispute."
Initially, police reported that Garcia was an Army veteran who had recently returned from Afghanistan. However, a military official later confirmed that Garcia had never served overseas. Garcia was discharged from the U.S. Army in July 2014, having enlisted in June 2012 and worked as a cannon crew member at Ft. Drum.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Vincent Anthony Estrada, an 18-year-old Latino, was arrested on suspicion of murder two days later. Estrada was charged with one count of murder, attempted murder, and discharge of a firearm. Prosecutors also alleged that the offenses were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Estrada pleaded not guilty on November 13, 2014, and was due in court on December 18, 2014. The investigation into Garcia's death highlighted the ongoing issues of gang-related violence in the area, and authorities continued to seek information from the public to aid in their inquiries.
