Family of alleged intruder shot dead disputes homeowner’s account

The family of a Rialto man who was shot and killed while allegedly breaking into a neighbor’s home Sunday night is disputing the homeowner’s account of what happened.

Police received a call from a female homeowner around 11:30 p.m. reporting that Andy Garcia, 20, was trying to enter her home through a window. Garcia and the male homeowner then got into a confrontation and Garcia was shot several times with a handgun, according to Rialto police.

Garcia’s family member, however, are questioning the shooter’s side of the story.

“That’s impossible. He doesn’t have a record, he wasn’t even in that, like, state of mind,” Maxine Flores, Garcia’s mother, told KTLA-TV Channel 5.

Garcia was at his sister’s graduation party Saturday night on Primrose Avenue, when he got into an argument with his sister’s boyfriend, family members said.

He had been drinking, and cousins tried to drive him to his grandmother’s house to cool off. Before they could leave, Garcia got out of the car and ran toward a neighbor’s house, KTLA reported.

Those at the party heard gunshots a short while later.

Police will be handing the case over to the district attorney, who will decide whether the shooting was justified.

“There was evidence at the location that substantiates the statements given by the homeowners,” said Rialto police Capt. Randy De Anda.

Police found evidence of an attempted entry into the residence and of a confrontation between Garcia and the homeowner, De Anda said.

Neither Garcia nor the homeowner have a criminal record.

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