2006 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

March 10, 2006

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Camden Police Executive Robert L. Stewart reported today that a city resident is being held in lieu of bail, charged with Murder in the fatal shooting of Mario Garcia, 29, on Tuesday, March 7, in Camden, N.J.

Damion Sanchez, 18, of Merriel Avenue in Camden, was arrested on Thursday, March 9. He is being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility on $500,000 bail, cash or bond, set today by Superior Court Judge Linda G. Baxter, Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division in Camden.

On Tuesday, Camden Police responded to a 7:16 p.m. call reporting shots fired near the intersection of Westfield and Rosedale avenues in the city’s East Camden section. Officers arrived to find the victim lying in a parking lot near the intersection. Garcia was dead at the scene. An autopsy determined Garcia died of gunshot wounds to the head, neck and back.

Investigation indicates the following:

Garcia had gotten the better of Sanchez in a fistfight earlier Tuesday in the area of Westfield and Rosedale. Sanchez left the area and allegedly returned with a handgun. The two met up, exchanged words and walked together to a dimly lit area of a parking lot at Westfield and Rosedale. Gunshots rang out. After the shooting ended, bystanders responded, found the victim lying on the ground and called police.

It is alleged that Sanchez pulled a handgun and shot Garcia multiple times.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.