Murder Charge Filed in Shooting of Marine

A Santee woman who claimed she shot a Marine because he wanted an injury to get him out of the military was charged Thursday with murder, and the county coroner said the woman’s story of how she was trying to only wound Anthony Lamont Jackson was just “one of many” tales she told police.

Yolanda Marie Garcia, 19, is scheduled to surrender at a 2 p.m. hearing today in the felony arraignment division of Municipal Court.

Jackson, 20, who grew up in San Diego and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, was shot once in the head on Sept. 24 at his parents’ home in the 200 block of Glen Vista Street. He died Saturday at Mercy Hospital.

Free on Bail

Garcia was originally arrested on suspicion of assault, then released when bail was posted, authorities said. The new charge filed Thursday accuses her of murder while using a gun. If convicted, the maximum punishment is 27 years to life in prison.

During the investigation of the slaying, Deputy Coroner Charles Kelley said information given to his office indicated that Jackson had wanted to be shot in the arm or leg so he could get out of the Marine Corps. According to Kelley, the woman told investigators that she “turned her head, her hand was shaking and she shot. She got him in the head.”

But Coroner David Stark said Thursday that “I know for certain that this is one of many stories that she told the police.”

“She had a number of explanations for the incident and that was one of them,” Stark said. “In talking to the Police Department yesterday, they said it’s a likely story and that they were concerned about it. So I take it now that charges are filed that they believed her, at least the part that she shot him for some reason. The police were certain enough she did fire the gun that caused his death.”

The district attorney’s office declined to discuss what statements Garcia may have given authorities. “My only comment would be that we prefer that kind of information not be made public before the preliminary hearing,” spokeswoman Linda Miller said Thursday. “Which is not to say that kind of information is true or false.”

Mother Angry

Meanwhile, Stark said that Jackson’s mother was angry about information being released that suggested her son wanted out of the military. “We were hearing from her,” Stark said.

Eleanor Jackson said Thursday that her son, a graduate of Morse High School, joined the Marine Corps in July, 1986. She said he seemed to enjoy the Marine Corps and that she was unaware that he wanted out. “He never told me any differently,” she said.

About Garcia, Jackson said: “She’s telling different kinds of tales.”

However, Jackson declined to elaborate on the case, nor would she speculate about a possible motive behind the shooting of her son.

“How would you feel if you had an only child and he was shot by somebody?” she said.

“I feel terrible. She needs to get her just rewards.”