Henderson man gets prison time in death of family friend

A Henderson man who accidentally shot and killed a family friend at a downtown Las Vegas bail bond company was sentenced Monday to between one and four years in prison.

Blaike Garcia was adjusting a light mounted to his 9mm Smith & Wesson gun in April while the handgun was pointed at 49-year-old Michael Mendoza.

Garcia’s finger slipped onto the trigger and the gun fired once, sending a bullet through the chest of Mendoza, who was watching television about 25 feet away, prosecutor Michael Schwartzer said.

Garcia, who was helping make T-shirts for All Star Bail Bonds at 726 S. Casino Center Blvd., pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in July.

There was no sign of a quarrel or struggle before the gunshot, and the prosecutor said surveillance video showed Mendoza stumbling outside the building followed by Garcia running up to help.

Garcia clutched Mendoza in his arms and applied pressure to the wound, rocking Mendoza until emergency crews arrived, defense attorney Damian Sheets said.

Mendoza, who was homeless at the time, had become close with Garcia and his family.

“He lost a great friend in this,” Sheets said. “It eats him up inside.”

Garcia and his family had allowed Mendoza to sleep at the building, which houses several bail bond companies, Sheets said. They would let Mendoza inside to watch television and keep warm.

Garcia participated in Mendoza’s funeral services.

“It’s just a sad tragedy all the way around,” Sheets said. “It’s not what any family member wants for either of them, and it’s not what any parent wants for either of them.”

Garcia, 20, had no criminal history, his lawyer said, calling the shooting a “negligent act.”

Sheets had argued for probation, saying that Garcia wanted to help educate people about gun safety and tell his story.

District Judge Douglas Herndon said he did not believe probation was appropriate in the case.

“He’s done everything he can to try and make amends,” Sheets said. “He understands that accepting responsibility is the right thing to do.”

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker