The San Diego Police Department has formally identified both the victim and the suspect in the deadly shooting that occurred earlier this month near Chicano Park in the Barrio Logan neighborhood.
The Incident
The shooting took place late in the evening on Wednesday, May 6, 2026:
The Dispatch: At approximately 10:05 PM, San Diego Police Communications received an anonymous report of a shooting on the south sidewalk of 2000 National Avenue, immediately adjacent to Chicano Park.
Emergency Response: Upon arriving at the scene, responding officers located an unresponsive man on the ground suffering from severe gunshot wounds. Despite immediate medical aid and life-saving efforts by officers and arriving paramedics, the victim succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The Escape: Witnesses at the time reported that the gunman fled on foot, heading northbound directly into Chicano Park.
Victim and Suspect Identified
Following an intensive investigation by the SDPD Homicide Unit, authorities released the identities of those involved:
The Victim: The 64-year-old man has been formally identified as Raul Torres.
The Suspect: Detectives isolated 31-year-old Benito Garcia Jr. as the primary suspect in the slaying.
The Arrest
On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at approximately 1:00 PM, law enforcement tracked Garcia Jr. to the north county region. Officers located him on the 3600 block of Grand Avenue in San Marcos, where he was taken into custody and booked into the San Diego County Jail on first-degree murder charges without further incident.
