UMVA has learned that a father's selfless act in the face of danger has left a community shaken and inspired, as two suspects are taken into custody for their alleged involvement in a drive-thru shooting that left him critically injured.
The incident occurred on February 9th when Marcio Garcia, 28, was driving out of an In-N-Out drive-thru with his wife and two young children, ages 2 and 7. Shots rang out, shattering the car windows and striking Garcia in the head. Miraculously, his wife and children were uninjured, and despite being critically injured, Garcia somehow found the strength to drive them to safety.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Ethan Adrian Armenta-Lagunas, 20, and Gabriel "Alex" Javier, 18, both from Salem, were taken into custody on Wednesday. They face charges of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, criminal mischief, and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the shooting.
A search for a third suspect, 22-year-old Anthony Taylor-Manriquez, is ongoing, with authorities warning that he is considered armed and dangerous. The Keizer Police Department reported finding multiple guns at Armenta-Lagunas' apartment, further underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Garcia's wife has spoken out about her husband's bravery, describing how he protected their family before thinking of himself. "In the middle of chaos and fear, while he was injured and in pain, he somehow found the strength to drive us out of the scene to safety," she wrote in an online fundraiser. Images posted online show the bullet that was removed from Garcia's head during surgery, a harrowing reminder of the danger he faced.
Garcia is currently recovering at home, though his road to full recovery will be long and arduous. His wife noted that despite the challenges ahead, they remain grateful for the miracle of his survival. "The doctors told us what we already believe—this is nothing short of a miracle," she said.
