Innocent bystander killed in crossfire while driving remembered as loving father and veteran

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE/Gray News) - Family and friends are mourning the death of a 41-year-old Marine veteran who was caught in a crossfire in New Orleans.

The New Orleans Police Department said the man, identified by family members as Michael Garcia, was driving and an innocent bystander in the shooting.

Terrence Leavell, 48, was arrested in connection with the shooting, police said.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, officers responded to a report of gunfire and a vehicle crash Tuesday at about 5 p.m.

Investigators said Garcia was found in the driver’s seat of his vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to a hospital by paramedics, where he died about an hour later.

A witness told detectives there had been a shootout involving two vehicles. According to court records, one of the men who was being shot at tried to flee the scene and crashed into Garcia’s vehicle.

Detectives later found a second crime scene about a block away, where they recovered multiple shell casings, court records show.

A resident told police of seeing a neighbor firing a handgun in the area. Detectives identified the neighbor as Leavell and later found a gun inside his home, according to court records. Orleans Parish prosecutors said Wednesday that Leavell is a convicted felon and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Police said Leavell told investigators he had been at a corner store with friends and his nephew and that a group in an SUV pointed guns at his nephew, according to court records.

Investigators said Leavell admitted he fired shots to protect his nephew. Police also said he was on parole at the time of the shooting.

Leavell was booked on manslaughter and gun charges, and bond was set at $700,000 Wednesday.

Calvin Stewart owns the corner store near where Garcia was killed. He described the chaos of the scene Tuesday afternoon.

“I mean, shots everywhere ... 60, 70 shots, gunshots. And I’m (lying in) my truck,” Stewart said. “I’m scared to move.”

Loved ones remembered Garcia as a father, military veteran and beloved member of New Orleans’ craft beer community.

Sam Hart, Garcia’s romantic partner, said Garcia was on his way to visit her when he was killed.

“It’s 5:00 in the afternoon. He was driving from his house to my house. He was coming to me,” Hart said.

Hart said Garcia, a former Marine, spread love wherever he went.

“How does a Marine serve more than 20 years and survive it, to live his life here with his family, and then he’s driving from his house to his partner’s house and that’s how he gets shot in the head?” Hart said. “How does that make any sense?”

She said Garcia loved crawfish boils, hanging out with friends and was a loving father to his child. She described every day with him as magical.

“It’s just the best day ever ... every single day with Michael,” Hart said.

Garcia’s employer, Care Forgot Beercraft, closed Wednesday to give staff time to mourn Garcia. The brewery said in a social media post that Garcia had “the biggest golden heart” and gave “the best hugs.”

“He was an incredible, loving father and accomplished military vet,” the post said. “He retired from service and chose to bartend because he loved our craft beer community in New Orleans. He made the best costumes for Mardi Gras; he created communities around him wherever he went.”

With the love of her life gone, Hart begged New Orleans to do better.

“We need to help the people that live here,” Hart said. “They need health care. They need help. Michael wanted them to have help, so we need to.”

Hart said it’s a violent imprint on a community, but Garcia was only greeted with love.

She said Garcia had it on his calendar to go before the City Council on Thursday to advocate for brewery employees encountering overdoses.

“Live like Michael, and check on each other and take care of each other, and let go of the things that don’t matter. And say how you feel and just love each other,” Hart said.