Shooting in Pacific Beach Park Is 28th Slaying of 1991 in City

Police arrested a suspect Wednesday in the slaying of a man who was found shot to death in a Pacific Beach park Tuesday night.

Steven McKinley, 18, was arrested at a city residence and held on suspicion of homicide, a police spokesman said.

McKinley had been sought for questioning in connection with the death of Robert Garcia, 20, and the wounding of his brother, Vincent Garcia, 18. The shootings took place in Kate Sessions Park about 10 p.m. Tuesday, Homicide Lt. Gary Learn said.

The shootings were the result of a fight over money, police said.

Vincent Garcia told police that he and his brother were driving through the park when they stopped because they were being followed by a pickup truck.

Vincent Garcia said McKinley got out of the truck and began quarreling with Robert Garcia over a small debt that he claimed Robert Garcia owed. McKinley reportedly went back to the truck and took out a small-caliber pistol, then shot both men.

After the shooting, McKinley and the driver of the pickup fled, Vincent Garcia said. The truck was later found abandoned at Oliver Avenue and Strand Way.

Vincent Garcia and his friends drove to a nearby fast-food restaurant where they called police, Learn said.

Police found Robert Garcia’s body in the park. Vincent Garcia was wounded in the chest and abdomen and was in serious condition in Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla Wednesday.

Robert Garcia was San Diego’s 28th homicide victim of 1991. He was also Tuesday’s third homicide victim, Lt. Dan Berglund said.

The other two victims were an East San Diego shopkeeper and a bandit killed in an exchange of gunfire.