Pursuant to an order entered by the 399th District Court in Bexar County, Manuel Fernando Garza Jr.'s, is executed at 6 pm CDT, on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas for the 2001 shooting death of San Antonio SWAT Officer John Anthony "Rocky" Riojas.
Manuel had a history of drug abuse and various crimes, Manuel was also a member of a gang. By the time Garza, then 20, encountered Riojas at a Northwest Side apartment complex off Fredericksburg Road, he had been arrested 14 times as an adult and had at least three convictions as a juvenile for robbery, burglary and drug possession. In the three years before the fatal meeting, Garza had been charged with evading or resisting arrest, escape or giving a false name to cops five times. He had five active warrants that night for other crimes, including two for vehicle burglary. His criminal history included unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, as well as charges of theft, escape, evading arrest, theft, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and unlawfully carrying a weapon to name only a few.
"I'm sorry for all the pain that I caused my family, friends and extended family," Garza said as he began his final statement, which included a reference to an Ozzy Osbourne song. "Especially to y'all police officers. I know y'all probably hate me. What happened between me and Rocky happened too fast. I didn't even know what happened, man. I wish y'all peace and love... God bless y'all, I will see you on the other side."
He was declared dead at 6:40 p.m., 26 minutes after the lethal dose pentobarbital was administered.
"Oop, here it comes. Goodbye!" Garza said from the gurney inside the Death House before letting out what sounded like a howl. His deep sighs gave way to snores before all movement ceased.
John Anthony "Rocky" Riojas, on patrol on Feb. 2, 2001 in a marked police vehicle, on the Northwest Side looking for car burglars and thieves who had plagued the area, stopped Garza and asked for his name.
Garza, who had five active arrest warrants including two for car burglary, later told police he gave Riojas a fake name and ran off, hoping to avoid arrest.
Riojas gave chase, caught him and the two struggled. Garza gained control of Riojas' gun, according to witness accounts, and fired one round into his forehead.
Riojas, 37, died a few hours later at University Hospital, with his wife by his side. He left behind two young children — a 2-year-old daughter and an eight-week-old son.
Police arrested Garza about 26 hours later but not before he tried to sell Riojas' gun for $100 and an amplifier. he was charged with capital murder of a police officer, . At the time, officers credited a tip from a confidential informant in Eagle Pass as well as witness accounts with leading them to Garza.
In one statement he gave police, Garza admitted to pulling the trigger. In another, he said the gun fired accidentally during the struggle. At trial, Garza's attorneys alleged he was acting in self defense against an overly aggressive cop.
It took jurors less than an hour to convict him of the crime and less than three to determine he deserved to die for it.
Witnesses in the execution chamber Wednesday included Garza's mother, Maria Gonzalez Garza and his wife, Larissa Jahaj-Garza,(whom he married after being on Death Row) .
Witnesses in an identical small room next to where Garza's relatives looked on included three uniformed San Anotnio police officers, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the window. Riojas' sister, Jolanda Sanchez, who also is a San Antonio police officer, stood behind the uniformed officers.
No words were exchanged among them. Sobs and wails could be heard coming from Garza's relatives in the neighboring room.
Sandra Riojas, his widow who declined an interview request, was not a witness.
About 60 officers, a few dozen in uniform, saluted the friends and family of Riojas as they left the building.∼Manuel Fernando Garza Jr. was a thoughtful, caring, talented man, who's life was taken from him on April 15, 2015.
He is preceded in death by his father and survived by his daughter, mother, two older sisters, youngest brother, numerous friends from over the years, and ex-wife.
Manuel had a history of drug abuse and various crimes, Manuel was also a member of a gang. By the time Garza, then 20, encountered Riojas at a Northwest Side apartment complex off Fredericksburg Road, he had been arrested 14 times as an adult and had at least three convictions as a juvenile for robbery, burglary and drug possession. In the three years before the fatal meeting, Garza had been charged with evading or resisting arrest, escape or giving a false name to cops five times. He had five active warrants that night for other crimes, including two for vehicle burglary. His criminal history included unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, as well as charges of theft, escape, evading arrest, theft, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and unlawfully carrying a weapon to name only a few.
"I'm sorry for all the pain that I caused my family, friends and extended family," Garza said as he began his final statement, which included a reference to an Ozzy Osbourne song. "Especially to y'all police officers. I know y'all probably hate me. What happened between me and Rocky happened too fast. I didn't even know what happened, man. I wish y'all peace and love... God bless y'all, I will see you on the other side."
He was declared dead at 6:40 p.m., 26 minutes after the lethal dose pentobarbital was administered.
"Oop, here it comes. Goodbye!" Garza said from the gurney inside the Death House before letting out what sounded like a howl. His deep sighs gave way to snores before all movement ceased.
John Anthony "Rocky" Riojas, on patrol on Feb. 2, 2001 in a marked police vehicle, on the Northwest Side looking for car burglars and thieves who had plagued the area, stopped Garza and asked for his name.
Garza, who had five active arrest warrants including two for car burglary, later told police he gave Riojas a fake name and ran off, hoping to avoid arrest.
Riojas gave chase, caught him and the two struggled. Garza gained control of Riojas' gun, according to witness accounts, and fired one round into his forehead.
Riojas, 37, died a few hours later at University Hospital, with his wife by his side. He left behind two young children — a 2-year-old daughter and an eight-week-old son.
Police arrested Garza about 26 hours later but not before he tried to sell Riojas' gun for $100 and an amplifier. he was charged with capital murder of a police officer, . At the time, officers credited a tip from a confidential informant in Eagle Pass as well as witness accounts with leading them to Garza.
In one statement he gave police, Garza admitted to pulling the trigger. In another, he said the gun fired accidentally during the struggle. At trial, Garza's attorneys alleged he was acting in self defense against an overly aggressive cop.
It took jurors less than an hour to convict him of the crime and less than three to determine he deserved to die for it.
Witnesses in the execution chamber Wednesday included Garza's mother, Maria Gonzalez Garza and his wife, Larissa Jahaj-Garza,(whom he married after being on Death Row) .
Witnesses in an identical small room next to where Garza's relatives looked on included three uniformed San Anotnio police officers, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the window. Riojas' sister, Jolanda Sanchez, who also is a San Antonio police officer, stood behind the uniformed officers.
No words were exchanged among them. Sobs and wails could be heard coming from Garza's relatives in the neighboring room.
Sandra Riojas, his widow who declined an interview request, was not a witness.
About 60 officers, a few dozen in uniform, saluted the friends and family of Riojas as they left the building.∼Manuel Fernando Garza Jr. was a thoughtful, caring, talented man, who's life was taken from him on April 15, 2015.
He is preceded in death by his father and survived by his daughter, mother, two older sisters, youngest brother, numerous friends from over the years, and ex-wife.
Pursuant to an order entered by the 399th District Court in Bexar County, Manuel Fernando Garza Jr.'s, is executed at 6 pm CDT, on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas for the 2001 shooting death of San Antonio SWAT Officer John Anthony "Rocky" Riojas.
Manuel had a history of drug abuse and various crimes, Manuel was also a member of a gang. By the time Garza, then 20, encountered Riojas at a Northwest Side apartment complex off Fredericksburg Road, he had been arrested 14 times as an adult and had at least three convictions as a juvenile for robbery, burglary and drug possession. In the three years before the fatal meeting, Garza had been charged with evading or resisting arrest, escape or giving a false name to cops five times. He had five active warrants that night for other crimes, including two for vehicle burglary. His criminal history included unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, as well as charges of theft, escape, evading arrest, theft, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and unlawfully carrying a weapon to name only a few.
"I'm sorry for all the pain that I caused my family, friends and extended family," Garza said as he began his final statement, which included a reference to an Ozzy Osbourne song. "Especially to y'all police officers. I know y'all probably hate me. What happened between me and Rocky happened too fast. I didn't even know what happened, man. I wish y'all peace and love... God bless y'all, I will see you on the other side."
He was declared dead at 6:40 p.m., 26 minutes after the lethal dose pentobarbital was administered.
"Oop, here it comes. Goodbye!" Garza said from the gurney inside the Death House before letting out what sounded like a howl. His deep sighs gave way to snores before all movement ceased.
John Anthony "Rocky" Riojas, on patrol on Feb. 2, 2001 in a marked police vehicle, on the Northwest Side looking for car burglars and thieves who had plagued the area, stopped Garza and asked for his name.
Garza, who had five active arrest warrants including two for car burglary, later told police he gave Riojas a fake name and ran off, hoping to avoid arrest.
Riojas gave chase, caught him and the two struggled. Garza gained control of Riojas' gun, according to witness accounts, and fired one round into his forehead.
Riojas, 37, died a few hours later at University Hospital, with his wife by his side. He left behind two young children — a 2-year-old daughter and an eight-week-old son.
Police arrested Garza about 26 hours later but not before he tried to sell Riojas' gun for $100 and an amplifier. he was charged with capital murder of a police officer, . At the time, officers credited a tip from a confidential informant in Eagle Pass as well as witness accounts with leading them to Garza.
In one statement he gave police, Garza admitted to pulling the trigger. In another, he said the gun fired accidentally during the struggle. At trial, Garza's attorneys alleged he was acting in self defense against an overly aggressive cop.
It took jurors less than an hour to convict him of the crime and less than three to determine he deserved to die for it.
Witnesses in the execution chamber Wednesday included Garza's mother, Maria Gonzalez Garza and his wife, Larissa Jahaj-Garza,(whom he married after being on Death Row) .
Witnesses in an identical small room next to where Garza's relatives looked on included three uniformed San Anotnio police officers, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the window. Riojas' sister, Jolanda Sanchez, who also is a San Antonio police officer, stood behind the uniformed officers.
No words were exchanged among them. Sobs and wails could be heard coming from Garza's relatives in the neighboring room.
Sandra Riojas, his widow who declined an interview request, was not a witness.
About 60 officers, a few dozen in uniform, saluted the friends and family of Riojas as they left the building.∼Manuel Fernando Garza Jr. was a thoughtful, caring, talented man, who's life was taken from him on April 15, 2015.
He is preceded in death by his father and survived by his daughter, mother, two older sisters, youngest brother, numerous friends from over the years, and ex-wife.
Manuel had a history of drug abuse and various crimes, Manuel was also a member of a gang. By the time Garza, then 20, encountered Riojas at a Northwest Side apartment complex off Fredericksburg Road, he had been arrested 14 times as an adult and had at least three convictions as a juvenile for robbery, burglary and drug possession. In the three years before the fatal meeting, Garza had been charged with evading or resisting arrest, escape or giving a false name to cops five times. He had five active warrants that night for other crimes, including two for vehicle burglary. His criminal history included unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, as well as charges of theft, escape, evading arrest, theft, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and unlawfully carrying a weapon to name only a few.
"I'm sorry for all the pain that I caused my family, friends and extended family," Garza said as he began his final statement, which included a reference to an Ozzy Osbourne song. "Especially to y'all police officers. I know y'all probably hate me. What happened between me and Rocky happened too fast. I didn't even know what happened, man. I wish y'all peace and love... God bless y'all, I will see you on the other side."
He was declared dead at 6:40 p.m., 26 minutes after the lethal dose pentobarbital was administered.
"Oop, here it comes. Goodbye!" Garza said from the gurney inside the Death House before letting out what sounded like a howl. His deep sighs gave way to snores before all movement ceased.
John Anthony "Rocky" Riojas, on patrol on Feb. 2, 2001 in a marked police vehicle, on the Northwest Side looking for car burglars and thieves who had plagued the area, stopped Garza and asked for his name.
Garza, who had five active arrest warrants including two for car burglary, later told police he gave Riojas a fake name and ran off, hoping to avoid arrest.
Riojas gave chase, caught him and the two struggled. Garza gained control of Riojas' gun, according to witness accounts, and fired one round into his forehead.
Riojas, 37, died a few hours later at University Hospital, with his wife by his side. He left behind two young children — a 2-year-old daughter and an eight-week-old son.
Police arrested Garza about 26 hours later but not before he tried to sell Riojas' gun for $100 and an amplifier. he was charged with capital murder of a police officer, . At the time, officers credited a tip from a confidential informant in Eagle Pass as well as witness accounts with leading them to Garza.
In one statement he gave police, Garza admitted to pulling the trigger. In another, he said the gun fired accidentally during the struggle. At trial, Garza's attorneys alleged he was acting in self defense against an overly aggressive cop.
It took jurors less than an hour to convict him of the crime and less than three to determine he deserved to die for it.
Witnesses in the execution chamber Wednesday included Garza's mother, Maria Gonzalez Garza and his wife, Larissa Jahaj-Garza,(whom he married after being on Death Row) .
Witnesses in an identical small room next to where Garza's relatives looked on included three uniformed San Anotnio police officers, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the window. Riojas' sister, Jolanda Sanchez, who also is a San Antonio police officer, stood behind the uniformed officers.
No words were exchanged among them. Sobs and wails could be heard coming from Garza's relatives in the neighboring room.
Sandra Riojas, his widow who declined an interview request, was not a witness.
About 60 officers, a few dozen in uniform, saluted the friends and family of Riojas as they left the building.∼Manuel Fernando Garza Jr. was a thoughtful, caring, talented man, who's life was taken from him on April 15, 2015.
He is preceded in death by his father and survived by his daughter, mother, two older sisters, youngest brother, numerous friends from over the years, and ex-wife.
Gravesite Details
Body cremated.
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