On the night of August 9, 2023, a Hispanic/Latino male named Marcus Garcia, 36, was fatally shot in a West Valley City neighborhood, near Salt Lake City, Utah. The incident, which police described as a targeted crime, unfolded just after 11 p.m. near 4200 South Bluebird Circle. Garcia was discovered deceased in the middle of the road with a gunshot wound.
The tragic chain of events began earlier that evening when a group of individuals, including 17-year-old Jose Hernandez-Liborio,
arrived at Garcia's residence. They were reportedly looking for Garcia's stepson over a monetary debt. When Garcia informed the group that his stepson was not present, they began to leave. Garcia, however, followed them in his truck, intending to get their license plate number. At some point, both vehicles stopped, and after Garcia exited his truck, Hernandez-Liborio fired a single shot from his vehicle, striking and killing him.
The suspects fled the scene in a light-colored sedan, which was later involved in a minor, non-injurious collision with another vehicle on 4000 West before continuing on. An investigation led West Valley City police to identify Jose Hernandez-Liborio as the primary suspect. He was arrested the following Monday during a traffic stop in West Jordan.
Though a minor at the time of the shooting, Hernandez-Liborio was charged as an adult with first-degree murder. In July 2025, he pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and felony discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony. In September 2025, a judge sentenced him to a term of seven years to life in prison. During the sentencing, Garcia's family spoke of their profound loss, remembering him as a loving brother, son, uncle, and father who had recently achieved his dream of becoming a truck driver.
