A 19-year-old man who police said may have been involved in a “high-risk activity” was fatally shot at an Arlington apartment on May 17.
Arlington police said officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 6000 block of South Cooper Street, near Sublett Road, at about 6 p.m.
While officers were heading to the scene, a couple called 911, saying they picked up the 19-year-old who had been shot at that location and were transporting him to the hospital.
Arlington police said first responders caught up with the couple and transported the victim by ambulance to the hospital, where he died of his injuries. The 19-year-old victim was identified as Mareon Robertson after the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office notified his next of kin.
During investigations, detectives with Arlington Police Department determined that the victim got into the back seat of a car parked outside the motel before the shooting. A few minutes later, Robertson exited the vehicle, after which shots rang out, and the victim was fatally hit. Authorities said the suspected shooter got into the car and fled the scene.
Arlington PD announced in a news release that it made three arrests on May 18 in connection to Robertson’s shooting.
According to the news release, homicide detectives from Arlington PD obtained an arrest warrant for 18-year-old Toby Garcia on one count of murder after speaking with witnesses and reviewing the evidence in the case.
Arlington police received a tip that Garcia had been spotted near W. Randol Mill Road and Fielder Road. Officers quickly set up a perimeter around the location and began searching for the suspect.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, authorities placed three Arlington schools on lockdown out of an abundance of caution while searching for the suspect.
Police arrested Garcia alongside two other suspects, identified as 17-year-old Joseph Garcia and 45-year-old James Capps. Authorities said all three suspects were hiding in a drainage ditch and were arrested without incident.
“Getting these suspects into custody took a tremendous team effort,” said Arlington Police Chief Al Jones. “Our Homicide, Fugitive, SWAT, Gang, Violent Crime, and Aviation Units, along with our Community Action Team and Patrol officers all worked together seamlessly on this case to identify these suspects and get them off the streets.”
Detectives said they believe Toby, Joseph, and James were in the vehicle Robertson entered before he was gunned down. Investigators added that all three suspects intended to rob the victim and that Toby Garcia approached Robertson after they exited the car and shot him as he attempted to flee.
Arlington police revealed that Garcia has since been booked into the Arlington City Jail on the murder warrant and on one count of evading arrest. Authorities added that his murder charge will be upgraded to Capital Murder upon case filling.
Joseph and James were each booked into the Arlington City Jail for Capital Murder and Evading Charges. It is not clear if Joseph and Toby Garcia are related.