Albuquerque bike shop asks for public’s help following tragic murder

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Joe Garcia and his daughter Isabel labored on constructing and paying off her dream bicycle for a yr. Nonetheless, simply two days after they lastly obtained to take it residence, Joe was killed and the particular bike was stolen.

Joe first visited The Bike Coop, positioned close to the College of New Mexico, for the primary time in 2020 to purchase a motorcycle for his youngest son.

“From sort of the primary time he got here in, he was only a actually real man,” stated Amanda Batty, the proprietor of The Bike Coop.

Joe shortly grew to become a daily.

“He got here in as soon as per week, however I don’t recall him ever spending cash on himself,” she stated.

Joe had a mission to provide his youngsters the identical alternative he had when he was youthful.

“For those who knew the place Joe was when he was a child, you’ll discover his bike. That’s the place he was at,” stated Lisa City, Joe’s sister. “He obtained his baby right into a Strider to begin studying easy methods to trip a motorcycle. Then he constructed a motorcycle along with his daughter Isabel.”

Collectively, Joe and Isabel spent a yr constructing her excellent bike.

“Isabel’s bike was hers,” Batty stated. “Prefer it was every part about it. I imply, and that’s sort of probably the most heartbreaking factor is that they picked it up on Saturday, June 11, and Joe was killed on Monday, June 13.”

Joe’s sister stated he was discovered shot to demise close to his residence. Albuquerque police are investigating his demise as a murder, however didn’t launch data on a suspect.

Joe’s household believes the particular person accountable didn’t cease at taking his life.

“There have been issues that have been taken,” City stated. “I made a quilt for my brother, for my sister, for all of my mother’s grandchildren, and that was taken, a guitar, his garments, some footwear, Isabel’s bike.”

Now, the household is asking for the general public’s assist to maintain a watch out for Isabel’s bike. They’re hoping that discovering it might result in extra data on Joe’s demise.

“It’s a very, actually distinctive bike,” Batty stated. “I imply, it was hand painted, it’s black and copper metallic, it has quite a few actually customized issues about it. From, you understand, the crank set and the chain ring up entrance, to the top tube that claims The Bike Coop. If we are able to’t convey her dad again, the least we are able to do is attempt to get her the bike that they constructed collectively.”

To make a donation to the Garcia household for funeral bills, click on right here.