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A man was arrested in Atherton while carrying an untraceable “ghost gun” and wearing a mask near Las Lomitas Elementary School on Aug. 25.
Nicholas Garcia, 30, was taken into custody around 8:50 a.m. at the intersection of Camino Al Lago and Barney Avenue after police responded to reports of a fight between Garcia and his father.
Earlier that morning, at about 8 a.m., a San Mateo County sheriff’s deputy went to Garcia’s parents’ home seeking help locating him after reports that he had been walking around Atherton in a mask. His parents told the deputy he struggles with mental health issues and may have a gun, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
The parents later found Garcia at the intersection of Camino Al Lago and Barney Avenue and tried to calm him down. Authorities say Garcia punched his 60-year-old father several times, then pulled out a gun and said he wanted to kill his father. A bystander who had initially avoided the confrontation helped restrain Garcia and remove the weapon after learning a gun was involved.
“Most people hear ‘gun’ and they head for cover but this individual helped keep the community safe,” Wagstaffe said.
Police recovered the firearm, which had no serial number and showed no sign that one had been removed, indicating it was not made by a gun manufacturer. Guns without serial numbers are known as “ghost guns.” Authorities have increasingly seen them manufactured with 3D printers, Wagstaffe said. Garcia told investigators he got the gun from a friend.
Garcia’s father suffered cuts to his head, facial bruising and a bloody nose, along with other injuries from the altercation.
Atherton police arrested Garcia, a Redwood City resident, on suspicion of attempted murder, battery with serious injury, carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a loaded firearm in public, possessing a firearm in a school zone and carrying a ghost gun.
Wagstaffe said the case does not meet the threshold for attempted murder because there was no actual attempt to fire the weapon. Prosecutors instead charged Garcia with felony criminal threats, felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury, felony carrying a loaded firearm in a public place when not the registered owner and felony carrying a concealed loaded firearm that is not registered.
Garcia’s parents reportedly want him to receive treatment for his mental health.
“The reality is that if the son is willing to get mental health help, and that’s the core of the problem, we want to see that happen,” Wagstaffe said.
Garcia was arraigned on Aug. 26 and is being held without bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9.
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Wow…that is some headline.