Maria Garcia and Mario Garcia Bronx, NY Murder-Suicide – In a tragic and shocking incident early Thursday morning in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York City, a longtime Port Authority Police Department officer allegedly shot and killed his sister, critically wounded their elderly mother, and then took his own life in what authorities are investigating as a murder‑suicide. The violent episode occurred inside a lower‑level apartment at 2500 Johnson Avenue near Kappock Street just before 8 a.m., prompting a massive law enforcement and emergency response.
According to police and law enforcement sources, the suspected shooter, identified as 55‑year‑old Mario Garcia, was a veteran officer with 23 years of service in the Port Authority Police Department. He was most recently assigned to the aircraft emergency response team at LaGuardia Airport and had previously worked at other Port Authority facilities.
When officers entered the apartment, they found Mario Garcia in the hallway with a gunshot wound to his head, indicating he had turned the weapon on himself after the shootings. Next to his body was a firearm and his Port Authority identification. Law enforcement pronounced him dead at the scene.
Inside the residence, emergency responders discovered the 59‑year‑old woman, identified by neighbors and unnamed sources as Maria Garcia, with a fatal gunshot wound to the head in her bedroom. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe she and the shooter were siblings.
An 86‑year‑old woman, believed to be the siblings’ mother, was found in another room suffering from a gunshot wound to the face. She was rushed to Harlem Hospital where she remained in critical but stable condition. Authorities have not publicly disclosed her identity as they continue to notify next of kin.
Neighbors described the quiet Riverdale community as stunned by the violence. Many said incidents of this nature are extremely rare in the high‑rise building, known locally as the Winston Churchill. Longtime neighbor Jane Burbank spoke fondly of the 59‑year‑old woman, saying she worked for New York State, loved dancing, traveling, and was looking forward to retirement. Burbank said the mother had recently moved into her daughter’s apartment.
Police officials have not released an official motive for the shootings and have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing. There are no indications at this time of a broader threat to the community. Authorities are exploring whether any warning signs preceded the violence and are urging residents who may have relevant information to come forward.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has declined to comment publicly on the incident, referring questions to the NYPD, which is leading the investigation. Domestic shootings involving law enforcement personnel often raise difficult questions about access to firearms, mental health resources, and whether signs of distress were missed — but authorities have not yet indicated whether any prior reports or concerns were raised about the officer.