On October 9, 2019, DeAndre Garcia, a 20-year-old Hispanic male and talented guitarist from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was tragically shot and killed at the Eagle Ranch Apartments. Known as a musical prodigy, DeAndre was attempting to protect a female friend from two assailants when he was fatally shot through the apartment door. The assailants, dressed in dark clothing and red bandanas, were reportedly pursuing the woman into her apartment.
DeAndre's courageous act of shielding her cost him his life.
The case remained unsolved for over two years until the Albuquerque Police Department's Digital Intelligence Team utilized advanced technology to analyze newly discovered cellular evidence. This breakthrough led to the identification of two suspects: 19-year-old Gilbert Salazar and 24-year-old Jose Angel Marquez. Marquez was located in Kansas City, Kansas, where he admitted during an interview that he and three other men had gone to the apartment and fired shots into the door. Salazar was later arrested during a traffic stop in Albuquerque. Both men were charged with an open count of murder and conspiracy.
Court documents revealed that DeAndre was trying to keep the suspects out when he was shot through the door. The prosecution emphasized the egregious nature of the crime, noting that DeAndre was an unsuspecting and innocent victim. Judge Clara Moran ordered Marquez to remain in custody until trial, citing the violent and targeted nature of the attack. Salazar also remains in custody pending trial.
DeAndre Garcia's case was featured in the first episode of the Albuquerque Police Department's 'Duke City Case Files,' a video series aimed at solving unsolved homicide cases. The series highlighted DeAndre's life, his passion for music, and the circumstances surrounding his death. The renewed attention and investigative efforts ultimately led to the arrests and charges against the suspects, bringing a measure of justice to DeAndre's family and the community.
