On a Friday afternoon in Phoenix, Arizona, the life of 34-year-old Jesus Isaac Velazquez was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. On June 7, 2019, while walking near 67th Avenue and Indian School Road, Velazquez was approached by an unknown man who suddenly began shooting at him. The terrifying encounter unfolded just after 3 p.m., sending Velazquez running for his life through the parking lot of a furniture store.
The assailant, relentless in his pursuit, continued to
chase and fire at Velazquez. Witnesses watched in horror as Velazquez was struck by the gunfire and fell to the ground. In a final act of brutality, the gunman reportedly shot Velazquez again as he lay wounded. Emergency services were called to the scene, and Velazquez was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
In the immediate aftermath, Phoenix police launched an investigation. A crucial piece of evidence came from witnesses who provided the license plate number of the vehicle the suspect used to flee the scene. This information led authorities to the driver, a relative of the suspect, who recounted picking up the alleged shooter, 26-year-old Victor Garcia, after the incident. According to the driver, Garcia had called for a ride before the shooting and was seen chasing and shooting the victim. However, Garcia remained silent about the murder upon entering the vehicle.
The following morning, law enforcement located and arrested Victor Garcia at his residence in Tolleson. He was subsequently booked into jail on one count of first-degree murder, with his bond set at $1 million. Court documents later revealed that Garcia was a previously deported felon. While an arrest was made, the motive behind the fatal shooting of Jesus Isaac Velazquez, a father of four young children, remained unclear.
