CRIME
Suspected Car Thief Shot Dead By Vehicle’s Owner In Parking Lot Of South Park Mall In San Antonio, TX (7/27/23)
A suspected car thief shot dead by the vehicles owner in what police say was self-defense has been identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner in Texas.
A stolen truck was tracked by its owner to the parking lot of the South Park Mall in San Antonio on Thursday, July 27, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said in a press conference. The trucks owner ordered the male driver, identified as Kevin Eric Garcia, 34, and a female passenger out of the vehicle at gunpoint and called police, McManus said.
While being held at gunpoint, Garcia “produced a weapon from his waistband” and shot the owner of the truck, McManus said. The truck owner returned fire, striking both Garcia and the passenger.
Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene, and the passenger was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The truck owner was also transported to the hospital, and was reported to be in stable condition, McManus said.
Photos shared by Casey Marchan show police at the scene of the crime Thursday.
“I guess it would depend who you ask, whether he did the right thing or not,” McManus said. “The owner of a stolen vehicle certainly has the right to track down their vehicle, now, we would prefer that, call the police before taking that into your own hands.”
