Was Santiago Garcia Killed Over a Girl?  

Tonight, a family is crying out for justice after Santiago Garcia was tragically stabbed to death on Sunday night. The twenty-year-old truck driver from Pomona Village was with his stepfather, Jason Sharp, reportedly trying to buy cannabis when they were attacked. Sharp sustained fatal injuries in the assault. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us the full story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

On Sunday night, just before nine p.m., twenty-year-old Santiago Garcia got a call from his stepfather, Jason Sharp, asking for a ride. Garcia agreed and drove him to a nearby neighborhood in Pomona Village. Unfortunately, just moments after they arrived, they were attacked, and Garcia was fatally stabbed.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander. Eastern Division

“On Sunday, police responded to a report of his stabbing at the Southern Regional Hospital. Upon the arrival, they saw the lifeless body of San Santiago Garcia with stabs wounds. Shortly thereafter, two other persons arrive for treatment. Namely Jason Sharp and Kenroy Smith. Information received is, Santiago Garcia and Jason Sharp went to the residence of Smith to purchase cannabis. There was an altercation between them. A fight started at which point Smith took out a knife and inflicted the injuries to both persons and investigation has had been carried out on this file had been sent to the DPP for directives.”

 

Garcia’s sister, Mellissa Lemus, who was celebrating her birthday on the day her brother tragically passed away, shared that he was simply doing a favor for his stepfather. He had no idea about the danger that was waiting for them.

 

Mellissa Lemus, Sister of Deceased

“He was in his room laying down when he received a call from Jason that Jason wanted him to pick him up where he was, and after that, he wanted to take him to a place where they sell weed. So my brother because he worked with my brother, he try to help him in everything he can. So he did what Jason Sharp wanted him to do. After that, then he see this person just came through the back and hurt him with a knife. But as we see my brother’s body, he had bite. He also had another cut on his hand and his face was bruised.”

ACP Hilberto Romero explains that an argument broke out between the parties, resulting in Garcia’s fatal injuries. However, according to Lemus, the perpetrator has had intentions of hurting her brother for about a year.

 

Mellissa Lemus

“We know that it was a threat from years ago because my brother was a good person, right? He worked at CPBL and whenever he come home and he see people by the bump side waiting for bus or anything and he’s not bringing my mother, he would bring someone with him. It looked like he started to bring on this person, lady. The person was very jealous of it, and he was telling other people that he would do something to my brother.”

 

Both Sharp and Garcia received stab wounds and were taken to the hospital, where Sharp is still recovering. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams explains that Smith handed himself over to the police shortly after the incident transpired.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The guy Smith is the one who actually took the other two the hospital for treatment. And following that, he went and surrendered himself to the police in, and explained to the police what had transpired.”

 

Lemus shared that her brother’s death has been incredibly tough on their mother. Already in poor health and dealing with another recent loss in the family, and this tragedy has hit her especially hard.

 

Mellissa Lemus

“Someone came here in the car and told her that my brother has passed, he’s hurt and he’s passed away, and she didn’t believe it. She called. She called me, and that’s when I realized that something happened because she was very sad, crying, screaming.”

 

Santiago is remembered for his kindness and ability to make connections with strangers. He was constantly surrounded by friends and family who loved and supported him.

 

Mellissa Lemus

“If he would see you on the street, he would hail you talk to you. I could tell you he’s a loving, loving person. He loved me so much. That’s why I was like this to him. He needed something and there, and whenever he needed help, he had other friends. He had Eddie from Cayo. He had so many other people. We had a good girlfriend that he always talk about that live in Benque, and we believe that what happened, we just want justice because he was a kind person.”

 

At just twenty years old, Garcia had big dreams of honing his skills as a truck driver and dedicating his life to taking care of his mother and family. Now, his family is calling for justice for Santiago and for all those who loved him.

 

Mellissa Lemus

“I don’t understand why they would have done that to him. It just hurt us because my grandfather has already passed March the twelfth, and we receive a bad news end of  month, nearly end of month. March thirtieth, which was my birthday. It was a very big shock. Like I told you, he had many plans. A part of that right? Building my mom a big house, making her stop work. He promised my mom that he would stay with her forever because it was only him and my mom at the house.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.