Salinas man sentenced to 30 years in prison for 2012 Christmas party murder
UPDATE: 7/6/2018 11:54 a.m. A Salinas man who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for killing his brother-in-law on Christmas Eve is sentenced to 30 years and 8 months in state prison.
It happened in 2012 after an argument with his wife at a party. The victim was 30-year-old Salvador Garcia, Jr. After the fatal shooting, he went to Mexico and lived under an alias for three and a half years.
Navarro was caught trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in April 2016.
He is charged with voluntary manslaughter, assault with a semiautomatic gun and carrying a concealed gun among other charges.
—————————————————————————————————————————-
UPDATE: 6/6/2018 12:46 p.m. A Salinas man pleaded guilty to killing his brother-in-law during a family Christmas Eve party back in 2012.
After an argument with his wife, 39-year-old Francisco Javier Navarro shot and killed 30-year-old Salvardor Garcia Jr. Following the shooting, Navarro took off to Mexico for three and a half years. He was arrested while attempting to cross the United States-Mexico Border on April 10, 2016.
According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, Navarro pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and carrying a concealed firearm on the person. He also pleaded guilty to mayhem, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, and battery arising out of multiple fights in the Monterey County Jail while he awaited trial.
Navarro will be sentenced to 30 years and 4 months in prison on July 6, 2018.
PREVIOUS STORY:
Salinas police said a man wanted in connection to a 2012 murder has been arrested.
On April 11, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection contacted the Salinas Police Department about an arrest they made at the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego. Authorities arrested Francisco Javier Navarro, 37, after he attempted to sneak into the United States using false documents. During a fingerprint check, officials determined Navarro had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. That warrant was issued by Salinas police in 2013.
Navarro is accused of a deadly shooting that happened on Dec. 24, 2012 on the 1200 block of 2nd Avenue. During an argument, police said Navarro pulled out a gun and shot 30-year-old Salvador Garcia. Garcia died from his injuries. In 2012 KION reported Garcia was Navarro’s brother-in-law.
Police said Navarro will be transported to Monterey County soon where he will face a murder charge.