A 29-year-old was sentenced Monday to 14 years in state prison for shooting a man who was himself a suspect in a shooting sparked by a parking dispute at a North Long Beach apartment complex.
Isaac Garcia, 29, pleaded no contest to one count of attempted murder during a hearing Monday in Long Beach Superior Court, records show. Additional charges of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and assault with a semi-automatic firearm were dismissed, records show, though it’s unclear whether that was part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
According to authorities, Garcia shot and wounded Roland Barber, 40, at the Pacifica Cove Apartments in the 5500 block of Ackerfield Avenue on June 29 as revenge for the slaying of David Nevarez, 35, weeks earlier.
Garcia and Nevarez were both at a gathering at the Pacifica Cove Apartments on the night of June 16 when Barber, wearing a mask and carrying a cane, allegedly shot Nevarez during a parking dispute. Nevarez was struck multiple times by the gunfire and died after being transported by paramedics to a local hospital, according to authorities.
Barber, meanwhile, fled the area and evaded arrest that night with the help of uncle and wife, authorities said.
Nearly two weeks later, Barber and his wife were in the parking lot of the apartments when Garcia “ambushed them,” according to authorities. Barber’s wife allegedly went to retrieve a gun and fired into an apartment unit believed to be associated with Garcia and Nevarez, police said.
Barber and Garcia were both arrested that day on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and being a felon, according to authorities.
While Barber was in custody in connection to the June 29 shooting, investigators identified him as the gunman in the earlier killing of Nevarez, according to authorities.
Barber has since pleaded not guilty to one count each of murder, attempted murder, assault with a firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied vehicle, and being a felon in possession of a gun, court records show. He remains jailed in lieu of $4.25 million bail, inmate records show.
His wife and uncle were also taken into custody on Aug. 3 in connection to Nevarez’s killing and have pleaded not guilty to one count of accessory after the fact, records show.