Hector Garza, a 48-year-old male of Hispanic ethnicity, was a dedicated officer with the San Antonio Police Department. On March 29, 2001, he responded to a domestic dispute call at a residence. Initially, two officers were called to the scene to stand guard while a resident removed possessions from the house. However, they were summoned back shortly after when another disturbance occurred.
During the altercation, Patrolman Garza attempted to separate the arguing couple.
The male suspect, Frank Garcia, suddenly spun around and shot Patrolman Garza in the head with a Mac-10 semi-automatic handgun. After killing Garza, Garcia also shot and killed his wife before chasing her brother-in-law. Garcia continued his shooting spree, wounding the brother-in-law with an AK-47 before returning to shoot Patrolman Garza again as he lay on the ground.
The suspect, Frank Garcia, was apprehended and charged with two counts of capital murder and three counts of attempted capital murder. Garcia's mother was also charged for instigating the incident that led to the murders and was sentenced to one year in prison. Garcia was convicted of capital murder and executed on October 27, 2011. Patrolman Garza is survived by his wife and five children.
The tragic death of Hector Garza highlighted the dangers police officers face while responding to domestic disputes and led to a significant legal and emotional aftermath for his family and colleagues. His legacy continues to be honored by the San Antonio Police Department and the community.
