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09-03-2008, 11:19 PM #1
Shooting victim:Councilman Matt Garcia taken off life suppor
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... .DTL&tsp=1
THIS HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO IN SOLANO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Final goodbyes to Fairfield councilman Matt Garcia
Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
(09-03) 19:45 PDT Fairfield -- Ten months after Matt Garcia became Fairfield's youngest City Council member, family members gathered around him at a Walnut Creek hospital Wednesday to say their final goodbyes.
Garcia, who turned 22 in July, was shot in the head Monday night outside a friend's home in a quiet Fairfield neighborhood. Tuesday, he was declared brain-dead, and Wednesday, he remained on mechanical support at John Muir Medical Center as surgeons began the process of recovering seven organs for donation.
His friend, Ron Marlette, said a series of public services is being planned, including a memorial at a high school football stadium next week.
"Matt has been turned over to the organ donor teams to honor the wishes of Matt to give life even in his death," Marlette told a bank of reporters outside Fairfield City Hall on Wednesday.
He said surgeons hope to transplant Garcia's lungs and kidneys, as well as his heart, liver and pancreas into patients in need.
Police have made no arrests in the shooting, which happened at 8:30 p.m. Monday on the 5000 block of Silverado Drive in the Cordelia neighborhood. Asked Wednesday about possible motives, Fairfield Police Chief Kenton Rainey said, "Nothing has been ruled out."
Police said Garcia had been talking with a female friend in the driveway of her family's home when a man in his late teens or early 20s stepped out of a parked car and, from a distance of about 50 yards, fired several shots from a small-caliber handgun or rifle. Police recovered eight ejected shell casings from the roadway.
Garcia, standing near his own black Cadillac, was struck in the back of the head. His friend, identified by neighbors as Jennifer Tarbell, who is 18 or 19, was not hit. The shooter then got back into a midsize American-made sedan and drove west, police said.
Rainey said detectives were working to "retrace Councilmember Garcia's steps" before the shooting. A friend of Garcia, 21-year-old Adrena Vidal, said she saw him just after noon at a Starbucks in Fairfield, and that he shopped at the Westfield Solano mall after that.
A man who witnessed the aftermath of the shooting told The Chronicle that the gunman's car pulled away from the scene with its headlights off.
"It pulled off casually slow and then sped off," said the 36-year-old man, who asked not to be named because he fears for his safety. "I wish I could have paid more attention to that car, but (it's difficult) when there's a guy laying on the road."
The witness - who had just opened a can of beer in a neighbor's open garage when he heard gunfire - said he was initially so shocked to see Garcia on the ground that he thought it was a prank, even though Tarbell was shouting for help.
Another neighbor, the witness said, looked at the victim and immediately exclaimed, "That's Matt Garcia!"
As other neighbors came out, including a registered nurse, the witness said he told an unconscious Garcia, "Try to hang on, man. I don't know if you can hear me, but hang on."
Paramedics rushed Garcia to a nearby school field from where he was airlifted to the Walnut Creek hospital.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the shooter's conviction.
Garcia had emerged from modest roots to become a popular city councilman with his election last November. Only 21 when he was elected to a four-year term, Garcia was the youngest councilman in city history. He turned 22 in July.
City Manager Sean Quinn said Wednesday that the remaining four City Council members have 30 days to decide how to replace Garcia, whose term extends through 2011. The council can appoint a new member or call for a special election, Quinn said.
Services for Matt Garcia
Prayer Service - 7 tonight. Parkway Community Church, 2397 Heath Drive, Fairfield.
Viewing - 5-9 p.m. Monday. Liberty Christian Center, 2641 N. Texas St., Fairfield.
Memorial - 4 p.m. Tuesday. Armijo High School, 824 Washington St., Fairfield (football stadium).
Donations to the Matt Garcia Memorial Fund can be made at First Bank, 2407 Waterman Blvd., Fairfield. Proceeds will go toward funeral arrangements and the creation of a public-service charitable foundation in Garcia's name.
E-mail Demian Bulwa at dbulwa@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f ... 12NFFK.DTLJoin our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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09-03-2008, 11:39 PM #2
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Although the story did not mention any possible motive for the shooting, I pray the family of Mr. Garcia will be okay.
He said surgeons hope to transplant Garcia's lungs and kidneys, as well as his heart, liver and pancreas into patients in need.Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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09-03-2008, 11:47 PM #3Originally Posted by vortexJoin our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
Laura Loomer - Woke up this morning to a @nytimes article...
03-27-2024, 11:36 PM in General Discussion