Kelly Agar Garcia, 43, is facing second-degree murder charges after allegedly fatally shooting his 26-year-old stepson, Azareel J. Martinez, during a dispute over a family member’s use of the video game Fortnite, police in Davenport, Florida, said.
Newsweek has contacted the Davenport Police Department and Epic Games on behalf of Fortnite for comment via email on Saturday.
The Context
About 25,000 people in the U.S. were killed in homicides in 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An estimated 10 to 16 percent of those killings involved family members.
In 2021, the CDC estimated that around 30 million children lived in homes with firearms, with 4.6 million residing in households that report storing firearms loaded and unlocked. The debate over gun safety has intensified as studies show millions of U.S. households store firearms loaded and unlocked, raising concerns about accidental shootings, especially involving children.
Fortnite is one of the world’s most popular video games, drawing millions of players daily to compete in its fast-paced, battle royale matches.
What To Know
Adriane Daza’s 9-year-old-son was playing Fortnite on Wednesday night. Daza had previously said he could not play the game and took his phone away. The boy was upset by his mother’s removal of his cell phone and reportedly went into her bedroom to grab a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun from the nightstand, the police said.
Daza, and her husband, Garcia, struggled with the boy to grab the gun from him and were able to eventually. Martinez, the boy’s older brother, then entered the room, getting into an argument with Garcia.
Garcia reportedly shot Martinez several times, including in the chest and abdomen, then shot him in the back as he was leaving.
Martinez was transported to a local hospital where he died.
Garcia is being held at the Polk County Jail, facing two charges—second degree murder with weapon and failure to safely store a firearm, according to jail records reviewed by Newsweek. He was booked at the jail on May 22 and is not eligible for bond.
What People Are Saying
Davenport Police Chief Steve Parker said during a press conference on May 22: “I truly believe that if that child did not know where that gun was, none of this would have happened today, none of it,”
What Happens Next
Garcia remains in custody, with his court hearing not publicly available yet. The investigation remains ongoing, as does the debate about gun safety and children’s access to firearms.
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