Suspect Nabbed in Dollar Tree Shooting

22-year-old fired six shots in Dollar Tree shooting

Police say David Anthony William Garcia, 22, fired six shots at a man fleeing the store after a scuffle between the two. The victim was struck several times, and authorities did not release his current condition.

It happened on June 4 around 3:30 p.m., when police say Garcia, of Desert Hot Springs, brandished a firearm and confronted an 18-year-old customer inside of the Dollar Tree on Date Palm Drive in Cathedral City.

The men fought for the gun, with 18-year-old Leah Lelani Lopez of San Jacinto and 62-year-old Marie Ashee Verest of Cathedral City accused of helping Garcia.

“After fighting over the gun for approximately 2 to 3 (minutes), the suspects and victim reached a stalemate and agreed to stop fighting,” according to Commander Jon Enos. “The victim attempted to shake the suspect’s hand, but the suspect retrieved the gun out of his pants and attempted to shoot the victim at point blank range.”

The gun failed to fire, the magazine dislodged and fell. They then fought for the magazine and the victim was pistol whipped in the head, the department said. The victim fled the store, and police said Garcia chased after him and fired six rounds.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department arrested Lopez later that day on suspicion of a different crime. She is facing charges in the Dollar Tree shooting for attempted murder and other felonies, the department said. She was scheduled to appear at the Larson Justice Center this morning (Friday, June 16) at 8:30 a.m., court records show.

Authorities said detectives received a tip that Garcia was hiding in a home in the 1300 block of Barbetty Way in Beaumont on Thursday. Garcia was arrested and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of attempted murder and other felony charges, the department said.