No charges in fatal Roosevelt shooting
ROOSEVELT COUNTY, N.M. (KSMX) — No charges will be filed in the shooting death of Derek Garcia in Roosevelt County last July, according to Ninth District Attorney Andrea Reeb.
In an announcement on Friday, Reeb said the grand jury declined to charge Garcia’s shooter, saying the shooter acted in self-defense.
The shooter later turned himself in to law enforcement, saying he shot Garcia after Garcia threatened him with a knife. Two others were also found with gunshot and stab wounds and were taken to the hospital.
Reeb said there was evidence to support both the guilt and innocence of the shooter, and she felt the fairest thing to do was to leave the case up to the grand jury.
“The prosecution team, the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Major Crimes Unit worked diligently pursuing the evidence in this investigation. An argument could be made that the shooter acted in self-defense or defense of others, just as an argument could be made that he did not act in self-defense or defense of others. ”
Reeb further stated: “My deepest sympathies go out to the family of Derek Garcia and I appreciate the patience the family has shown while waiting for the investigation to be completed. Based on the findings of the Grand Jury, my office will close this case.”
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