Dover man charged with shooting death outside Hindu temple in Lowell, Mass.
Paul Garcia, 38, of Dover, New Hampshire being held without bail after being charged with a shooting death outside a Swaminarayan Temple in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon alllege Garcia's shooting resulted in one death and two people being injured. They allege he was drinking before firing his gun at a gathering and fled.
Garcia was arraigned Wednesday in Lowell District Court, according to a representative of the court. He is being held at the Middlesex County House of Corrections pending a probable cause hearing, scheduled for Aug. 22.
Garcia is represented by attorney Robin Gagne. She could not be reached for comment.
Sarah Lamson, a spokesperson for the Middlesex district attorney's office, said because the case is open, Garcia's file will not be released at this time.
What happened the night of the shooting
On Saturday July 20, at approximately 4:53 a.m., Lowell police responded to the parking lot of the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bostontemple on Middlesex Street for reports of shots fired. Officers observed approximately 30 people in the parking lot of the temple. Multiple people directed the officers to two men, suffering from gunshot wounds, according to authorities. Emergency medical personnel responded and transported both victims to an area hospital.
One of the victims, identified as Jose Ortiz, 43, of Lowell, was later pronounced dead. The other victim, a 34-year-old man, was treated and released. A third victim, a 26-year-old female, sustained minor injuries and transported herself to an area hospital where she was treated and released.
According to authorities, two groups of people had gathered in the temple parking lot and were reportedly drinking, partying and lighting off fireworks. A physical altercation occurred involving the victims and others who were in the parking lot. Moments after the altercation began, authorities allege, Garcia started shooting into the crowd.
On Tuesday, July 24, police arrested Garcia without incident at a house in Lawrence, Massachusetts, according to authorities. He has been charged with armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. In addition to these charges, he was expected to be arraigned on one count of murder Wednesday in Lowell District Court.
Dover police Lt. Mark Nadeau said the local police department has had minimal contact with Garcia.
"Our only criminal contact with Mr. Garcia involves a January 2020 arrest on a warrant for a criminal mischief incident that occurred roughly one month prior in Dover," said Nadeau. "It was alleged during that incident that Mr. Garcia damaged property that belonged to a domestic partner. A warrant was issued, and he was charged with two counts of domestic violence related criminal mischief, both Class A misdemeanors."
The shooting in Lowell is being investigated by the Middlesex district attorney’s office, Lowell police and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit. The prosecutors assigned to this case are Christopher Tarrant and Maren Schrader.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Dover man charged with shooting death outside Hindu temple in Lowell
