Tamara Rosario was settling in for bed on July 18 when her 17-year-old son, Wilfredo Garcia, wished her goodnight from the living room of their home on the 900 block of Plane Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
"The last words I got to hear from my son were, 'Good night, Mom. I love you,'" Rosario told regional NBC affiliate WGAL.
About 15 minutes later, a gunshot shattered the quiet of the Lancaster County residence. Rosario raced toward the sound and discovered her son bleeding, slumped in a chair with his head resting on a table.
Background
Columbia Borough Police received a call about a shooting at approximately 9:45 p.m. Officers arrived to find Garcia unresponsive. Despite their efforts, investigators determined the teenager was beyond help.
Rosario told WGAL she attempted to keep her son conscious after discovering him wounded. "I was telling him, 'Baby, if you're still here, squeeze my hand.' He was squeezing my fingers until he finally stopped squeezing my fingers. And I knew my son was gone."
The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office identified the alleged shooter as Jose Manuel Lopez III, a 16-year-old who was also a minor at the time of the incident.
The Charges
Lopez has been charged with third-degree murder in Garcia's death, along with involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a minor, and three counts of recklessly endangering another person.
According to investigators, several people were inside the room when the weapon was discharged. No one else was struck.
Police said Lopez initially denied being present in the room during the shooting before later admitting to holding the handgun that fired. Detectives allege he admitted knowing the weapon's magazine was loaded when he pointed it at Garcia with his finger on the trigger.
Because Lopez is a minor, he was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Authorities recovered two guns during their investigation, which remains ongoing.
Key Takeaways
- Wilfredo Garcia, 17, was fatally shot inside his Columbia, Pennsylvania home on July 18 around 9:45 p.m.
- His mother discovered him wounded approximately 15 minutes after he said goodnight with the words "I love you."
- Jose Manuel Lopez III, 16, has been charged with third-degree murder and additional offenses including involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a minor.
- Police allege Lopez admitted to handling a loaded handgun and pointing it at Garcia with his finger on the trigger.
- Lopez was denied bail during preliminary arraignment and is being held at the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center.
What's Next
Lopez remains in custody without bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11, where prosecutors will present evidence supporting the charges against him. The investigation by Columbia Borough Police continues, with detectives conducting multiple interviews over more than a week following the shooting.