Brothers face murder charges in connection with early morning Carson City shooting

UPDATE 5:19PM: Two brothers were booked on murder charges in the shooting death of an 18-year-old Carson City man early Monday morning following a drug transaction that turned violent on the north side of Carson City.

Jesus Garcia-Manriquez, 18, and Allen Garcia-Manriquez, 19, were booked into Carson City Jail on charges of principal to murder in the shooting death of Grant Watkins, 18, of Carson City.

The pair were also charged with maintaining a drug house after investigators found narcotics in their apartment. Bail was set at $250,000 each. In addition, Jose Garcia-Manriquez is being held without bail on an unrelated probation violation warrant. A 17-year-old juvenile female, arrested earlier and taken in for questioning, was released to her parents. During the early part of the investigation, authorities believed she was an adult and may have been involved in the shooting.

The arrests happened following an early morning raid involving the Carson City Sheriff's Office SWAT team after it had executed a search warrant in the 900 block of East Fifth Street. During the building entry, the three were retrieved from their apartment and taken to the sheriff’s office for questioning.

A subsequent search of the apartment allowed detectives to retrieve approximately $10,000 cash and assorted drug paraphernalia and weights/packaging materials. No weapons were found.

While the investigation remains very active, detectives are piecing together information that suggests the victim, now identified as Grant Watkins of Carson City was attempting to sell approximately 3 ounces of marijuana to the Garcia brothers.

None of the persons involved in this incident were residents of the residential area, and the nearby public park was not a determining factor, said Furlong. Information suggests that an event took place in the street at Windridge Drive near Scotch Pine Drive; the precipitating incident to the shooting has not been readily identified. Watkins was taken to the hospital by a friend, and was pronounced dead at 2:09 a.m.

This investigation remains extremely active, said Furlong. Anyone with any information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Carson City Sheriff’s Office at 887-2014. Reporting persons may remain anonymous.
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Three were taken into custody Monday morning in connection with the fatal shooting of a young man over a marijuana deal near a park in north Carson City, Sheriff Ken Furlong said.

The three were arrested without incident by Carson City SWAT at an apartment complex on Fifth Street near Harbin Street. The three came out following demands by SWAT to surrender after investigators learned they had been hiding inside a residence.

The victim of the shooting died at 2:09 a.m. after being flown from Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center to Renown Medical Center in Reno. He is believed to be in his late teens. His name has not been released and the names of the three suspects have not been released. The three are in their late teens and adults. One of the male suspects had an outstanding juvenile warrant, said Furlong.

Bullet casings from semi-automatic hand guns were found on a street. The shooting did not take place in the park, but near the park. At this time it is believed the shooting was over a transaction of around 3 ounces of marijuana in which the "deal went south and now we have a dead teen," said Furlong.

During the investigation it was learned where the suspects were at. A search warrant was sought and approved by a judge, said Furlong. Once the suspects were in custody, detectives began a search of the residence.

At 12:39 a.m. the Carson City Sheriff’s Office received reports of multiple shots fired in the area of Windridge Drive and Spooner Drive in North Carson City. As units arrived in the area, authorities at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center Emergency Room reported an adult male had arrived at their center with a gunshot wound to the stomach. The victim was in critical condition and taken to Renown Medical Center by Care Flight. The victim was pronounced dead shortly after 2 a.m.

The victim was taken by a driver to Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center following the shooting, where he was flown out by Care Flight, said Furlong. The vehicle, a yellow 4-door Mitsubishi sedan, appears to have been struck with a bullet in the front end area.

Developing....check back for more information as this story is being updated.