Sean Dylan Markey Jr., a 17-year-old White student, was a senior at Sandia High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a promising future ahead of him. He is remembered by his family, including his parents, Sean Markey Sr. and Tricia Ruger, and his siblings, as a vibrant part of their lives.
On the night of September 28, 2019, Sean was at a homecoming party at a house in Northeast Albuquerque. During the party, a young man named Izaiah Garcia fired a gun.
Investigators later determined that Sean was not the intended target. A bullet ricocheted and struck Sean in the back, fatally wounding him.
In the immediate aftermath, the Albuquerque Police Department announced an investigation but had no suspects in custody. Their investigation eventually led them to Izaiah Garcia, who was also charged in a separate homicide that occurred less than a month later, the killing of 21-year-old Cayla Campos.
In August 2021, a jury found Izaiah Garcia guilty of first-degree murder with a “depraved mind” and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for his role in Sean Markey’s death. A mistrial was declared for some of the other charges against him.
On March 23, 2023, a judge sentenced Garcia to life in prison for Sean’s murder. He will be eligible for parole after serving 32-and-a-half years. Garcia was later convicted and sentenced for the murder of Cayla Campos as well. As of July 2024, Garcia was serving two consecutive life sentences, meaning he must complete his sentence for the murder of Sean Markey before beginning the sentence for the murder of Cayla Campos. His conviction in Sean's case was upheld on appeal.
