The Yakima Police Department (YPD) arrested a suspect yesterday, Thursday, in connection with a homicide that occurred on Sunday, April 21st.
Nathaniel Garcia, 20, is charged with 1st degree Murder in the shooting death of 16-year-old David Martinez.
At 1:50 am on April 21st, a robbery occurred at 18th Street and Sliger Road. One of the suspects, Garcia, was shot during the robbery by a second suspect. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition after suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
Garcia spent four months in Harborview recovering from his injuries. Detectives from YPD’s Gang Unit and Criminal Investigations Division arrested him yesterday and he was booked into the Yakima County Jail.
Martinez was walking to a residence on Sliger Road on April 21st, along with two other juvenile males and two juvenile females. While walking to the residence, Martinez and the group he was with were allegedly confronted by two men armed with guns.
The armed men – one was allegedly Garcia – purportedly pointed guns at Martinez and the group with whom he was walking. A fight between the two armed men and some of the members of the group Martinez was with apparently broke out. Martinez was shot several times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
With Garcia now in custody, YPD’s Criminal Investigations Division continues to gather information about the case and a second suspect.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Yakima Police Department at (509) 575-6200 or by calling 9-1-1. Tips can be also be reported to Yakima County Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-248-9980, on the organization’s website at crimestoppersyakco.org, or through the “P3 Tips” app that can be downloaded for free at p3intel.com/