Nearly a year after Bruce “Angel” Garcia was killed in a Philadelphia police shooting, his relatives say they are still being kept in the dark. On Thursday, family members and supporters rallied outside the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, demanding the public release of body‑camera footage and other evidence in the case. They say what they have seen so far in private screenings only deepens their doubts. Garcia was shot on May 21, 2025, near Mutter and Somerset streets in the Fairhill neighborhood and later died at Temple University Hospital.
Genesis Garcia, Angel’s sister, told FOX 29 Philadelphia the family has been shown only limited material and accused officials of “withholding evidence.” She said they waited roughly seven months before they were finally allowed to see body‑worn camera footage and described that tightly controlled viewing as “disgusting.” Supporters at the demonstration also pushed for the release of ballistics results and any available surveillance or bystander video, arguing that a few clips behind closed doors will not restore public trust.
DA Meets With Family, Schedules Follow‑Up
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office met with Garcia’s family on May 14 and scheduled another sit‑down in the coming weeks to go over the status of the investigation, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. A spokesperson told the station the office would offer trauma services to the family and aimed to be “sensitive to the communities and families impacted.” Relatives said the meeting was a necessary first step, but they stressed that private briefings behind office doors are not a substitute for making the evidence public.
Police Account Of The Shooting
According to the Philadelphia Police Department’s incident summary, officers initially spotted Garcia carrying a black bag and tried to conduct a pedestrian stop. He allegedly ran, and officers chased him to Mutter and Somerset, where a physical struggle broke out, as detailed by the Philadelphia Police Department. Investigators say Garcia pulled a privately manufactured P‑80 9mm handgun from the bag and fired through it, and that officers then fired back, hitting him. Police say officers took Garcia to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The department notes that body‑worn cameras recorded parts of the confrontation but were knocked off during the struggle.
Family Says Video Contradicts Official Account
Garcia’s relatives say what they have seen of that footage tells a different story. They told reporters the video they were shown did not include the initial stop and “contradicts everything” they have been told about how the encounter began, according to 6abc/Action News. The family also says the clips failed to explain why some gunshots appear to come after a pause in the struggle. Police have said they recovered additional surveillance footage and videos from responding officers, and the family is now insisting that those full, unedited files be released to the public.
What Comes Next
Under city policy, both the Citizens Police Oversight Commission and the District Attorney review officer‑involved shootings, and the DA ultimately decides whether to file criminal charges, according to guidance from the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. The Philadelphia Police Department told FOX 29 Philadelphia that the two officers involved in the shooting were returned to full‑duty status on July 1, 2025, a decision Garcia’s family and their supporters say only heightens the urgency for transparency. Reviews by the District Attorney’s Office, internal affairs investigators and oversight agencies remain active.
Advocates say Garcia’s case has become part of a broader citywide fight over how much evidence the public gets to see in police shootings, a pattern local media have chronicled, including reporting by the Philadelphia Inquirer. For now, Garcia’s relatives say they will keep rallying, meeting and pressing officials until the District Attorney and police release the full record and address lingering questions about the stop, the struggle and the footage they have only partially been allowed to see.
