Two teenagers died after a shooting outside a Garland house party on May 8.
Garland Police said the department was notified of a shooting in the 800 block of Magnolia Drive late into the night. When officers responded to the scene, they found several people with gunshot wounds near the roadway.
According to police, an 18-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. Police identified him as Jose Damian Garcia.
Three other people wounded in the gunfire were taken to local hospitals. One of them, a 17-year-old male, later died from his injuries at the hospital. Police believe he and Garcia were involved in the shooting.
The remaining two were taken to the hospital in stable condition and have been released from the hospital. It is unclear if they were directly involved in the argument and shootout.
Police arrested 22-year-old Christopher Torres of Arlington and 21-year-old Jesus Saldana of Garland at the scene. The two suspects are charged with murder in connection with the shooting.
According to police, they were taken to the Garland Detention Center.
The family of Jose Damian Garcia, who was pronounced dead at the scene, said that he had just celebrated his 18th birthday.
“These kids cut his wings from living his dreams,” his mother, Blanca Garcia, told FOX 4.
According to investigators with Garland Police Department, Jose and the other teenager who died at the hospital arrived at the party together. As they parked their vehicle outside, they apparently became involved in an altercation with others. The argument led to the shootout in which the two were killed.
Armando Garcia, Jose’s brother, said that Torres was a family friend before the incident.
“He was with us. He ate at my table. How are you going to kill my brother?” Armando said.
Jose’s family members are not the only ones shocked by the incident. Neighbors were also surprised to have such violence happen in a quiet neighborhood. According to FOX 4, this incident marked the first two homicides in Garland this year.
Despite the arrests, Garland Police said they are still investigating the shooting. According to NBC 5, Matt Pesta with the Garland Police Department said that investigators are still trying to figure out why a disturbance on the street became so violent.
Anyone with information regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting is encouraged to call the department at 972-485-4840.
