Yo Creek shooting claims the life of a father of two and leaves three others injured

Tonight, investigators in the Orange Walk District are probing into the most recent act of gun violence that claimed the life of one man and left three others injured. The victim, 38-year-old Eufemio Garcia, and three other men were socializing in Yo Creek Village when they came under fire. The incident has left the close-knit community mourning and searching for answers. Reporter Vejea Alvarez headed north and tells us more.          

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: Tonight, a father of two is dead after he was targeted for the second time in less than six months. On Saturday night, 38-year-old Eufemio Garcia, and three others were socializing in Yo Creek Village. The men were standing in front of Lula’s shop when, according to Police Press Officer ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, a lone gunman emerged and opened fire.

ASP. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer: “Initial investigation revealed that Mr.Garcia went to that store along with three other men to make a purchase when a lone shooter attacked him and opened fire in his direction mainly. The other persons that were with him got gunshot related injuries but were transported to the Northern Regional Hospital for treatment. It was Brandon Garcia and Alde Valencia.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: The deadly shooting has left this close-knit community in mourning. Today, Efuemio Garcia Sr, and a group of villagers were at the community’s cemetery preparing Garcia’s grave. He says that since his son was shot in October of last year when an intruder entered his home, he feared the perpetrators would have returned. 

Efuemio Garcia Sr, Father of Victim: “That evening before he died.”

Reporter: What was that conversation like ?

Efuemio Garcia Sr, Father of Victim: “Well it was kind of like right now, I went to buy and I met him at the shop that’s all I just hailed.”

Reporter: I understand that he was shot last year October what was his mentality like after that ? 

Efuemio Garcia Sr, Father of Victim: “He didn’t tell me anything about that.” 

Reporter: Were you guys fearful for his life after that incident ? 

Efuemio Garcia Sr, Father of Victim: “Well in a way yes because maybe it was an intent to finish him and they didn’t finish him that time so I said maybe they will come back again. I am not expecting that but I was hoping it wouldn’t be but it happened. In a sense well all I can say is that we’ll miss him. We are sad but we have to accept it.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: Following the shooting, Garcia temporarily relocated. But he returned home three months ago, according to his cousin, Gabriel Novelo. He says that he heard the shots but never imagined it was his best friend that had been murdered.

Gabriel Novelo, Cousin of the Deceased: “I heard bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang and I said what is that now ? I didn’t know who or what was the problem there but a bally called me and said boy you know they killed Fem. What ?! I said. I came out with my little cycle and I went over there and he was already dead.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: According to Novelo, his cousin had a troubled past and was in the process of changing his life and moving out of the country. 

Gabriel Novelo, Cousin of the Deceased: “Last time he said he wanted to go all the way up to Cancun because he wanted to go work there, wanted to change his life and be a next man and so because the first time they shot him and then he wanted to change his life over there.”

Reporter: He had a troubled past ? 

Gabriel Novelo, Cousin of the Deceased: “He had been shot about three months ago.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: Garcia’s family says they don’t have any idea why he was murdered but believe it was connected to the previous shooting incident. Asp Yearwood says investigators are also looking at that angle and are hoping to make a breakthrough. 

ASP. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer: “The motive has not been established but we cannot say that that was gang related either.”

Reporter: Any suspects at this time ?

ASP. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer: “Well we’re searcing for one person that the police believe would be able to assist in this investigation. Our investigators believe that the shooter might have been from the previous reported incident.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: Garcia leaves behind two children ages 5 and 2. Vejea Alvarez Love News