PHILADELPHIA, PA – A man who shot and killed a 16-year-old boy while riding his bicycle back to his home has been found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury of his peers.
District Attorney Larry Krasner said Luis Garcia, 33, shot and killed Jonathan Rosa Camacho on January 4, 2021, as he rode his bike in the 4200 block of Fairhill Street in North Philadelphia. Camacho had just stopped at a nearby convenience store when Garcia targeted him.
Garcia shot the boy eight times before fleeing the scene.
Through their investigation, the Philadelphia Police Department identified Garcia as the shooter in the incident. Search warrants were obtained and executed by investigators for the vehicle and cell phones of the defendant. Additional evidence was obtained through these warrants, including the recovery of the body pack worn by Garcia on the night of the shooting.
Garcia admitted to shooting the teen, saying he believed Camacho was associated with another person he was targeting for murder.
The defendants were later confronted with this evidence during interrogation, whereupon they provided Mirandized confessions admitting to their involvement in the murder of Camacho. It was determined during this interrogation that Garcia gunned down the teen because he believed Camacho was associated with another individual that Garcia was targeting to murder.
“Thanks to the excellent prosecution of this tragic case by Assistant District Attorneys Helen Park and Kristin Pachell, along with the diligent investigation by Philadelphia Police detectives, the streets of Philadelphia are safer,” said DA Krasner. “With this conviction and sentencing, my office continues to send the message to those contemplating senseless acts of violence: You will be caught and convicted.”
“This was a senseless act of violence that took the life of a 16-year-old boy from this world,” said ADA Park. “My thanks to Jonathan’s family for their patience and faith in a system that, although imperfect, did achieve justice in this case.”
Garcia was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.