In 2021, six people were charged by APD detectives in connection with a shooting at a house party. The incident led to the death of 16-year-old Gabriel Garcia and injured another teenager. The suspects allegedly fired over 200 rounds into an apartment at 500 Tennessee St., N.E. on August 28, 2021. They reportedly intended to target a different individual. After the incident, they discussed it in a group text message, with one suspect referring to the incident as a ‘team kill.’
The charges against the suspects include an open count of murder, shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, and conspiracy. Five of the six suspects are currently in custody. Francisco Rodriguez turned himself in. The sixth suspect, Lawrence Ramirez-Casiquito, is still at large with a warrant for his arrest. The other suspects are Santos Veronica, Francisco Ramirez, Dominic Baca, Elton Gastelum, and Johnny Lopez.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives assisted in the investigation. They traced the bullet casings to guns used in other shootings around the same time. One of these shootings occurred on September 9, 2021, where three people exchanged gunfire and Dominic Baca, one of the suspects in the house party shooting, was injured.