In a tragic and senseless act of violence, Jose Moises Garcia Flores, a 40-year-old man, was shot and killed on the evening of October 8, 2016, in Woodbridge, Virginia. Originally from Honduras, he had immigrated to the United States seeking a better life and was described by his widow as a friendly 'family man' with no known enemies. He worked as a painter and was a father figure to his wife's sons. The incident that claimed his life unfolded at the Bayvue Apartments in the 1400 block of Bayside Avenue.
On that fateful Saturday, just before 6 p.m., Garcia Flores was walking towards his apartment building when he was approached by two individuals. Residents in the area reported hearing gunshots and seeing a man on the ground. When police responded to the scene, they found Garcia Flores suffering from gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The motive for the attack was determined to be a robbery, though his widow stated that nothing was taken from him, including his cell phone and wallet.
The Prince William County Police launched an extensive investigation into the homicide. Initially, they released descriptions of two suspects. Their efforts led to the identification of Robert Ellis Robinson, 47, and Terrell Lejuan Harris, 21, both of Woodbridge, as the men responsible for Garcia Flores's death. The investigation revealed that the suspects did not know their victim and that the fatal shooting occurred during an attempted robbery.
In early December 2016, both Robinson and Harris were arrested and charged with murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. At the time of their arrests for the murder of Garcia Flores, both men were already incarcerated on unrelated charges. The charges brought a measure of resolution to the case, though the violent and random nature of the crime left a lasting impact on the community and the victim's grieving family.
