Mario Garcia, Maria Garcia, and 86-year-old woman die in fatal Bronx murder-suicide

Mario Garcia, Maria Garcia, and 86-year-old woman die in fatal Bronx murder-suicide

Fatal Bronx murder-suicide death of Mario Garcia, Maria Garcia, and 86-year-old woman – Obituary

A devastating murder-suicide took place early Thursday morning in the Bronx, claiming the lives of a Port Authority officer, his sister, and leaving their elderly mother in critical condition. The tragedy unfolded just before 8 a.m. at a high-rise apartment building on Johnson Ave. near Kappock St. in the Riverdale area. Mario Garcia, 55, a long-time Port Authority police officer, shot his 59-year-old sister, Maria Garcia, and critically wounded their 86-year-old mother before turning the weapon on himself.

The officer, who had served for 23 years with the Port Authority and was stationed at LaGuardia Airport, was found dead in the hallway with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His sister Maria was discovered dead in her bed, while their mother, also shot, was rushed to Harlem Hospital where she is expected to survive.

Neighbors remember Maria as a kind, social person who loved dancing and travel, and who was planning to retire soon. Both Maria and Mario were believed to be the children of the elderly woman. Authorities have not yet officially confirmed their identities, but neighbors and police sources identified Maria as the deceased woman, while Mario Garcia’s name was also confirmed through law enforcement sources.

The community was shaken by the violence, particularly in a quiet building that residents describe as home to a mix of families, elderly residents, and young professionals.