Last week, Luis Garcia was sentenced to life in jail without parole for fatally shooting 16-year-old Jonathan Camacho while he was riding his bicycle. Garcia was found guilty of first-degree murder, possession of an illegal weapon, and other related firearm violations, according to a statement by the prosecutor.
On January 4th, 2021, Garcia shot Camacho eight times and then fled the scene in a Subaru Legacy driven by another man. Officers rushed to the scene of the shooting and attempted to save the boy’s life, but he succumbed to his injuries.
The Camacho family expressed their sorrow and remorse that they could not be with Jonathan in his last moments. Jonathan was a young man who dreamed of caring for his family and providing for them.
Surveillance footage from a nearby Chinese food store showed Garcia wearing distinct shoes and a bodypack before the killing. Another video showed him running away after the shooting. Detectives spotted the same Subaru a week later and apprehended Garcia and his co-defendant, Eric Santiago. After being confronted with evidence, the two confessed.
The Philadelphia District Attorney, Larry Krasner, said in a news release that Garcia mistakenly thought Camacho was connected to someone he was targeting to murder. Krasner warned potential criminals that they would be caught and convicted for their actions.