Capitola Mall father had drugs coursing through his veins at time of shootings

A Watsonville man who killed his daughter and himself in an SUV behind the Capitola Mall had methadone, methamphetamine and cannabis coursing through his veins, according to the Santa Cruz County Sherrif’s office.

Carlos Garcia, 36, of Watsonville shot his daughter, Elizabeth Yaxtel Garcia Tapia, 7, on March 19. He had been shopping at the mall with his wife and daughter but had begun making suicidal threats while under the influence of methadone, methamphetamine and cannabis, according to toxicology results released Friday.

A GoFundMe page set up by the family raised almost $25,000. The Capitola Police Department is performing most of the criminal investigation with assistance by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office.

The National Suicide Prevention line is free and available 24 hours a day. It can be reached at 1-800-273-8255