By Cecil Conley and Nika Megino | Daily Republic | September 13, 2008 22:15
FAIRFIELD - Matt Garcia may have been shot to death Sept. 1 because the
city councilman was mistaken as a person owing a 'narcotics debt.'
A source close to Garcia's family told the Daily Republic on Saturday
that investigators believe Garcia, 22, was shot in an incident of
mistaken identity during what was supposedly a drug deal on Silverado
Drive in Cordelia Villages. Garcia had gone to Silverado Drive about
8:30 p.m. to visit a friend, Jennifer Tarbell.
Police held a press conference Saturday morning to announce they had
arrested two suspects -- Gene Allen Combs, 45, of Suisun City and
Nicole Stewart, 33, of Fairfield. The two were booked into Solano
County Jail on charges of murder, conspiracy and felony use of a
firearm.
According to the arrest reports, which police Capt. Darrin Moody said
are based on statements by the suspects, Combs was one of two male
passengers in a car driven by Stewart and that the three had gone to
Silverado Drive on the night of Sept. 1 to collect a narcotics debt.
According to those statements, the second male passenger exited the
vehicle and opened fire on Garcia as the councilman got out of his
Cadillac.
Rowena Shaddox, a reporter for FOX 40 TV in Sacramento and a former
Daily Republic employee, interviewed Stewart shortly after Stewart
arrived at the jail. During the interview, Stewart told Shaddox that
the three people in the car had no idea it was Garcia who had been
shot. "I didn't find out until the next day that is was Matt Garcia on
the news," Stewart told Shaddox.
Stewart also told Shaddox that is was Williams that got out of the car and fired the shots.
"Only Henry can answer why he shot him," Stewart said.
Stewart said she saw Garcia's grandmother ask why her grandson had been
shot at Garcia's memorial. Stewart said to "Tell her I'm so sorry, but
that won't bring her grandson back."
Garcia was shot once in the back of the head. He was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.
He was declared brain dead Sept. 2.
That second passenger may have been Henry Don Williams, 32, of
Fairfield, whom police identified Saturday as the third suspect in the
investigation.
Police Chief Kenton Rainey described Williams, who has an extensive
criminal history, as 'armed and dangerous' and vowed a relentless
pursuit.
'Turn yourself in,' Rainey said. 'We're not going to rest. We're going
to hunt you down and bring you to justice. We're going to continue to
chase.'
Williams' car was found in Berkeley on Saturday, Moody said, but
authorities were unable to locate Williams after talking to people in
the vicinity.
According to several sources, Stewart is nine months pregnant and Williams is believed to be the father.
The description of Williams given at the press conference -- a
5-foot-9, 180-pound black male -- was similar to previous descriptions
of the shooter given by police officials. Police had previously said
the shooter was a light-skinned black or Hispanic male, 5-foot-9 with a
medium build.
'We're confident that the three named today were involved in this crime,' Rainey said.
Garcia's stepfather, Raymond Courtemanche, and Councilman Chuck Timm
thanked the public for not taking any actions to avenge Garcia's death.
'Let the justice system take it,' said Timm, a retired police officer.
'I know a lot of people wanted to avenge Matt and they've been good
(about doing nothing).'
Courtemanche said the family has confidence in 'Rainey and his
leadership' and that 'we don't want additional bloodshed on our great
city.'
Combs and Stewart are scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Solano County Superior Court.
The Fairfield City Council on Tuesday night is expected to approve a
contribution of $50,000 to the reward for information leading to an
arrest and conviction. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger contributed the first
$50,000, and the Solano County Board of Supervisors added $50,000.
Reach Cecil Conley at 427-6925 or cconley@dailyrepublic.net. Reach Nika Megino at 427-6953 or nmegino@dailyrepublic.net.