A Fort Worth man has been handed a 30-year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old in 2020. Marcus Williams, age 31, was recently convicted of murder by a jury for the death of Lawrence Garcia Jr. in an incident that stemmed from an altercation involving two groups, as per Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office.
Thanks to the Fort Worth Police Department for their work on this case and for their commitment to keeping our community safe. pic.twitter.com/8tejYPxL13
— Tarrant County CDA (@TarrantCountyDA) December 11, 2023
The confrontation took place on February 2, 2020. Following an arrest warrant affidavit, it was during this dispute that Cristina Maria Watkins reportedly encouraged Williams by shouting, "Baby, shred these (expletives)," an instruction delivered as the victims were leaving the scene in a vehicle. The affidavit noted that Williams fired his weapon once at the retreating vehicle in the 100 block of South Sylvania Avenue, tragically striking Garcia in the back of the head, as reported by Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Garcia was pronounced dead the next day at a local hospital. The conviction and subsequent sentencing of Williams close a chapter on a case that has loomed over the community for nearly three years.
