A Rio Claro man, at the centre of a family feud, was gunned down in cold blood while he sat in his car on Tuesday night. Marcus Garcia, 33, of Roble Grove Road, died around 10 pm on Tuesday. He was the eighth member of his family to die violently within recent times. Police said Garcia and his common-law wife Amanda Roopnarine, 22, went to the home of her grandmother to pick up some laundry, when tragedy struck.
Roopnarine came out of the car, leaving Garcia in the vehicle. Moments later, two men wearing dark clothing jumped out of some bushes and opened fire with a shotgun. The bullets struck Garcia in the head. He died on the spot. Investigators believe Garcia was killed after being acquitted of the double murders of his stepfather Arnold Nelson and his cousin Jason Garcia in 2009. He was also accused of shooting at the home of his mother Zita Wilson at Agostini Village, Rio Claro, last week.
Garcia had pending charges for possession of arms and ammunition. The family feud started almost eight years ago when Garcia's cousin Brian was killed while hunting in the Rio Claro forest. Garcia's brother Peter, who was dubbed the "Forest Fugitive" was accused of the murder. This caused the family split with both sides squaring off against each other.
The rift turned into an all-out war when Brian's brother, Sherwin Wilson, was shot following a heated argument with Peter Garcia on September 28, 2009. Wilson survived three bullets to the head. Two days after Wilson was shot, another brother, Jason Garcia, 37, was killed. This was followed by the shooting of cousin Curtis Roy, 37, on March 5, 2010. He had been accused of supplying the bullets which claimed Jason's life.
On Good Friday 2010, another reprisal occurred with elder brother, Gerard Garcia, 41, being shot dead. Brian's uncle, Wayne Patrick Gonzales, 45, was the fourth man to die. He was shot 17 times in the head and chest seven days later. On April 19, during Gonzales' wake, a gunman opened fire on people and police who were in attendance. Two of Gonzales' relatives were shot in that incident. A day later, the home of Garcia's mother, Elaine Garcia, 64, was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
Peter Garcia, who was accused of shooting in the wake, remained in hiding for over a year and on May 15, 2011, he surrendered to police. However, while appearing at the Rio Claro Magistrates' Court charged with murder of Simboonath Kumar and the attempted murder of Sherwin Wilson on September 28 2008, Peter was shot dead outside the court house.
Kumar, the owner of the Triangle Too Amphitheatre and Sport Club at Ganesh Road in Rio Claro was killed by a single bullet to the head on April 19, 2009. On July 11, 2010, Rudolph Contrero, Bullock's grandfather was found in a car in Rio Claro-he was chopped and partially burnt with his head partially decapitated. Bullock and Garcia believed Contrero's gruesome murder was a message to Garcia.
Police said they are now bracing for more reprisal attacks. Patrols have since been boosted at Agostini Village, Rio Claro.