LaredoBuzz.Com

(Laredo, Texas)- Jurors spent the majority of the day yesterday listening to the testimony of the accused Joseph Allen Garcia.   He began by telling of his drug use and how his habit began as a student at Lamar Middle School and continued at Cigarroa High School.

When recalling the incident in question, he spoke of a fight at school that took place on December 12, 2003, just a day before the shooting.  Then, he told of being at his father’s home when his siblings told him of a red truck with young men parked outside.  Outside, he found Josue Ollarzabal, Antonio Castro “El Wache”, Mario Alberto Gonzalez (the victim) and Carlos Garcia.  He said that he would buy marijuana from Josue on a regular basis, so he claimed he was not uncomfortable approaching them.  He testified that they grabbed him and attempted to kidnap him by forcing him into the truck and holding a gun to his head.  He claimed they said that they were going to take him to “La Azteca”.   He testified that he managed to get away and ran inside his home while hearing gunshots behind him. 

He stated that he went to his friend Jesus Victorio Garcia’s home to smoke marijuana and told him of the incident.  He said that Jesus’ neighbor, Adrian Rangel, showed up and when told of the incident, he claims Adrian said, “They’re gonna be fucked over because they’ve done a lot of things” (in reference to the alleged shooters).  He said that he told his friend, Jesus, “I don’t understand why Josue would do that” ( when he would regularly buy marijuana from him).  He testified that Jesus said, “Pues ellos son Pistoleros”. 

He said that he, his friend; Jesus, and Adrian Rangel all got into the defendant’s green F150 truck and went looking for the group.  He testified that he merely wanted to confront “El Wache” and ask him ‘why he had done that to him’. 

He testified that Adrian Rangel was in the bed of the truck, Jesus was driving and he was in the passenger seat.  He said that when they arrived at the home of Gonzalez (the victim),  they honked to draw the young men outside.  He stated that suddenly, Adrian jumped up in the bed of the truck and pulled out an AK-47.  He said it sounded like the weapon jammed and the group drove off only to do a U-Turn, come around and shoot at the group. 

 The defendant testified that he had nothing to do with the shooting, that the police were making false statements on the stand and that Adrian Rangel was the shooter that night.

District Attorney Alaniz cross-examined the defendant.  He questioned him extensively about his drug use and his failure to report the alleged shooting and attempted kidnapping.  The defendant told Alaniz that the statements made by the police officers were false and that his “girlfriend” was not completely honest when giving her testimony.    

 Closing arguments took place at about 4pm.