Mauricio Garcia, 52, was shot and killed in his Columbia, South Carolina home on March 13, 2025, following what began as a domestic dispute. The first 911 call came from his 44-year-old girlfriend, Kristen Berger, who reported that Garcia had assaulted her. Officers from the Forest Acres Police Department found no evidence of assault, attempted to separate the two and advised Garcia to lock himself in his room; with no apparent crime at that time, they left the scene.

About 90 minutes later, at roughly 2:15 a.m., Berger called 911 again reporting an accidental shooting. Police returned and found Garcia with a gunshot wound; he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. Berger was located outside the home with her hands raised and taken into custody. The firearm was later determined to be reported stolen.

Berger has been arrested and charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; she was denied bond and is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. A supervising officer who responded to the initial call resigned, and the city did not comment on whether that resignation was related to the case.

Did anyone in the area hear or see anything that night that could help clarify what happened in the hours before Garcia was shot?