On the evening of the Fourth of July, 2025, a dispute between two former friends culminated in a fatal shooting on the banks of Eagle Creek in Indianapolis. David DeJesus Lira-Mojica, a 23-year-old Hispanic man, was shot and killed during the altercation. The incident, which also left another man in critical condition, unfolded around 7:30 p.m. in the 7600 block of Lafayette Road, near Eagle Creek Park.
Emergency responders arrived to find two men with gunshot wounds along the shoreline and rushed them both to a nearby hospital, where Lira-Mojica ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The confrontation reportedly stemmed from an argument over a woman between Lira-Mojica and 20-year-old Eython Garcia. Lira-Mojica had gone to the park with a group of four people to speak with Garcia, who was kayaking with his cousin. Accounts of what happened next differ. Witnesses who were with Lira-Mojica stated that Garcia pulled a gun from his backpack as they approached. They allege that Lira-Mojica challenged Garcia to a fistfight, telling him to 'drop your gun, let's fight like a man,' but Garcia instead shot Lira-Mojica multiple times. Garcia, however, told investigators that the group pushed and grabbed him and that Lira-Mojica had asked him, 'You ready to die?' prompting him to pull his gun and fire.
Following the initial shots, the scene descended into further chaos. After shooting Lira-Mojica, Garcia allegedly struggled with another man from the group over the weapon. Garcia gained control of the gun and shot that man in the chest. He then reportedly chased the remaining individuals, firing at them as they fled to their vehicles. A couple who were kayaking nearby were unintended witnesses to the violence, with one of their kayaks being struck by a bullet.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives began an investigation that night, detaining and questioning three persons of interest. Based on evidence and witness statements gathered over the next several days, investigators identified Garcia as the suspect. On July 15, a murder warrant was issued for his arrest. Eython Garcia was located and taken into custody hours later by the IMPD Violent Crime Unit and the U.S. Marshals Task Force. He has since been charged with murder, attempted murder, attempted battery with a deadly weapon, and criminal recklessness.
