Alejandro Garcia

Alejandro Garcia, a 41-year-old Latino man, was a devoted father and husband who worked two jobs at Taco Bell restaurants to support his family. Born in Cuernavaca, Mexico, he had come to the United States nearly two decades earlier. His family described him as a hard worker, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, and an outgoing jokester who was always willing to help others. He was the father of three children: a 19-year-old son, a 16-year-old son, and a 3-year-old daughter.

On the night of Saturday, January 8, 2022, Garcia was picking up an extra shift at a Taco Bell in South Los Angeles, working alongside his 19-year-old son. Shortly before 11 p.m., a customer in the drive-thru at the restaurant on Avalon Boulevard tried to pay with a counterfeit $20 bill. Garcia's son, who was working the window, refused to accept the money. An argument followed, and the customer opened fire, fatally shooting Alejandro Garcia in front of his son. Paramedics arrived, but Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.

The Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into the killing. Homicide investigators identified 39-year-old Jonathan Madden as the man responsible. On Monday, January 10, members of the LAPD’s Gang and Narcotics Division located and arrested Madden at his home in South Los Angeles. The following evening, at a vigil held for Garcia, LAPD Chief Michel Moore personally informed the grieving family that a suspect was in custody.

On January 12, 2022, Jonathan Madden was charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. At his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to all charges. His bail was set at $2 million. Records indicated that Madden had a long criminal history with multiple felony convictions and had been to prison three times. At the time of the shooting, he had two other open felony cases.

The community rallied around Garcia’s family, holding vigils and contributing to a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses. A cousin expressed the family’s heartbreak, saying, "We lost someone that we loved and cared for, and it was just for money, for food, for $20!" As of January 2022, the case against Jonathan Madden was proceeding through the court system.