Valerie Garcia, 20, and Michael Cardona, 21, both of Big Spring, were pronounced dead at Scenic Mountain Medical Center shortly after a shooting was reported at 905 E. 16th Street at approximately 9:38 p.m. Sunday According to police reports, Garcia was pregnant at the time of her death.

“The bodies have been sent to Lubbock for autopsies,” said Sgt. Tony Everett, public information officer with the Big Spring Police Department. “There really isn't much more than that to report at this time. No arrests have been made and right now we don't have any particular suspects were looking at. This one is going to take a little while.”

Also injured in the shooting were an unidentified 3-year-old girl, 19-year-old Phiilp Martinez, 21-year-old Daniel Rios and 21-year-old David Rios. According to Everett, the 3-year-old suffered a leg wound in the shooting and was treated at the emergency room at Scenic Mountain Medical Center and released.

According to police reports, the other three victims also suffered non life-threatening injuries and were treated and released.

A call to Covenant Hospital in Lubbock this morning, however, revealed Daniel Rios is currently in the facility's intensive care unit and is listed in fair condition. According to Covenant officials, Rios was listed in serious condition when he was admitted to the hospital Sunday night.

Everett said witnesses described a dark colored Ford pickup speeding away from the scene of the shooting.

“This cowardly shooting is gang related. Witnesses all agree that a dark color Ford pickup was involved and there is more than one suspect involved,” said Everett. “Details are still sketchy at this time and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police department at 264-2550 or Crimestoppers at 263-TIPS (8477).”

Lt. Terry Chamness, acting as spokesman for the BSPD the morning following the shooting, said the violence is the result of a dispute between a local family and a street gang.

“This is all about drug territory,” said Chamness. “There's an ongoing dispute over drug territory between the Rios family and the Latin Kings, a local street gang. That's what's at the heart of this shooting.”

Chamness confirmed several shots are believed to have come from the Ford pickup, but said it's currently unclear how many suspects were involved.

“We're not sure yet how many people were in the pickup or how many were involved in the shooting,” said Chamness, who confirmed the police department is treating the crime as a capital murder. “We'll know more once we have the suspects in custody, but we are treating this as a capital homicide. In the end, however, it will be up to the district attorney what charges are brought against them.”

Howard County District Attorney Hardy Wilkerson said his office will examine the evidence before deciding whether the shooting should be prosecuted as a capital murder.

“It certainly appears to have the merits necessary for capital murder, but until the details of the investigation are turned over to us its hard to say for sure,” said Wilkerson. “Anything at this point would purely be speculation.”

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it