Family, friends remember slain tire shop owner

HOUSTON – Family and friends of a slain southwest Houston tire shop owner are expected to gather Tuesday for a vigil.

People will come together at 4 p.m. to remember Bobby Garcia, 38, who was shot to death, at his shop at 13350 Almeda Rd. 

Police are searching for four men in connection with the shooting.

Houston homicide investigators said Garcia was shot around 3:15 p.m. Monday in the 13000 block of Almeda Road.

A witness said Garcia was a frequent customer at the gas station next to the tire shop.

According to police, the owner of the gas station pulled in front of the store and began unloading items from his trunk. When the owner went inside to drop off some items, he left the trunk open, police said.

Two men in hoodies got out of a light blue or silver Chrysler 200, according to HPD. One of the men started to go through the trunk while another acted as a lookout and a third person remained in the vehicle, according to HPD. The role of the fourth person is unclear.

Police said Garcia and an employee at the gas station were leaving the store when the thieves shot them. One of the men shot Garcia twice.  The employee was grazed by a bullet. Police said the men left in the Chrysler.

Garcia  was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital where he died, according to police.

The employee was taken to a hospital and he's expected to be OK.

[WATCH: Wife of tire shop owner shot to death speaks]

Garcia's wife, Jeniffer Hernandez, said he was the father of two boys, ages 10 and 11. She said her husband died trying to help others.

"We had customers and people who had no money for a tire, (and) he would help him out," Hernandez said.

She's asking the community and the police to find the people responsible for killing her husband. 

"Anybody, please, say anything if you know anything.  Please give my husband some justice," Hernandez said.

Police said they have surveillance video. HPD is hoping to release an image of the getaway vehicle soon.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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