A man has been charged with murder following a shooting at a San Antonio illegal gambling house last year, authorities said. The San Antonio Police Department made the arrest of 30-year-old Michael Gaitan who was allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Roland Garcia, 40, during a dispute over stolen gambling proceeds, as reported by KENS5.
On the night of Jan. 26, 2023, police arrived at the 5500 block of Hayden Drive to find multiple 8-liner gambling machines and Garcia, who had been shot twice after allegedly stealing money from one of the machines. Despite responding to the scene around 10:15 p.m., the reasons behind the delay in Gaitan's apprehension remain unclear. Details of the encounter revealed that at a point during the altercation, Gaitan dropped a gun from his jacket, and while Garcia reached for it, Gaitan retrieved it and fired the deadly shots, explained in an arrest warrant affidavit covered by KSAT.
Following the incident, Gaitan fled the scene in a white Volkswagen Jetta with an accomplice. Investigators gathered enough evidence and witness statements to charge him with murder. Gaitan, after being identified in a photo lineup, was arrested yesterday and remains in custody at the Bexar County Jail, with a bond set at $250,000. His initial court appearance is expected at the end of May.
As police continued their investigation, it was unearthed that Gaitan had ordered someone to assault Garcia using brass knuckles after he stole the money, as reported by KENS5. During the assault, as the gun fell out from his jacket and when Garcia attempted to retrieve it, Gaitan gained possession of the firearm and shot him in the stomach and head, subsequently pronouncing Garcia dead at the scene.
This incident has cast yet another spotlight on the city's underground gambling scene, bringing into question the levels of violence associated with these illicit enterprises. As details continue to emerge, the unfolding narrative will likely further complicate the already complex dialogue surrounding illegal gambling and associated criminal activity in the community.
