A Leader Lost
Matt Garcia, center, is congratulated by his grandmother, left, and other supporters as election results are announced that place him several votes ahead of Jack Batson for one of the two open seats on the Fairfield City Council. Garcia, 21, is the youngest person ever elected to the Fairfield city council and is the youngest councilman currently serving in California.
Garcia ran on a pledge of improving community in Fairfield through helping youth and decreasing crime. His run galvanized youth in the city and after being elected he work diligently to put his plans into action. For nine months he lived his long time dream of serving Fairfield, until on Sept. 1, 2008 he was murdered in the streets of the city he loved.
Fairfield police officers inspect the murder scene of city councilman Matt Garcia. Garcia was shot in the head in a case of mistaken identity. The gunman was trying to shoot at another man who owed him less than $100 for drugs. He mistook Garcia's car for that mans and fire at Garcia when he was in the driveway of a friends house. Within days the killers were apprehended in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"I just can't believe he's gone," said Eric Medina, while he was visiting a memorial to slain councilman Garcia outside of city hall two days after he was shot. "He came and spoke to my high school class just a few weeks ago, and he told me and my friends that I should get involved in helping the community." In the days after Garcia's murder signs and memorials to the young leader sprung up everywhere.
Thousands of people march through the streets of Fairfield during the Matt Garcia Memorial Unity March Saturday morning. Attendees of the event made a pledge of personal peace and nonviolence in honor of the slain Fairfield city councilman.
"I keep it up to honor him, and to remind people of what he stood for," said local barber Ted Musselman of the Garcia poster that hangs in his barbershop window. The Garcia posters hang in classrooms, restaurants, city offices and on street poles throughout town. "We just wanted people not to forget about Matt and to keep working for Fairfield," Matt's step-father Raymond Courtemanche said of the signs. Every six months since his death old faded signs have been replaced with new ones.
Matt Garcia's grandmother Chris Garcia cries while saying a prayer in her grandson's room. Chris Garcia has kept a candle burning in the room ever since her son was murdered. "Sometimes I come in here to pray, and I can feel Matt with me," she said. "He always would say to me, 'I'm so blessed.' But now i say that it was us who were blessed to have known him."
Kenneth Good, of Hogan High School in Vallejo, talks with prospective employers during the Solano Student Summit Wednesday in Vallejo. The event, which was was organized to help at-risk youth find employment and volunteer opportunities, was started by Garcia before he was killed and hugely attended by local youth.
Garcia's mother Teresa Courtemanche sobs when seeing her son's killer for the first time during an arraignment at Solano County Superior Court. The trial is progressing at a fairly slow pace due to the high profile nature of the crime. Officials from the District Attorney's office would not comment on the case which has been moved out of Fairfield to neighboring Vallejo, Calif.
Fairfield youth box and play basketball at the Matt Garcia Youth Center. The center, which Garcia worked hard for during his nine months on city council, was opened six months after his death. It's goal is to keep at-risk youth off the streets after school. The center furthers Garcia's campaign goals of building community through helping youth in Fairfield. It was originally set to be named after another well-known Fairfield resident, "But after Matt's death it was a no-brainer that we name it after him," Fairfield city councilman Chuck Timm said, adding that, "It's one small way that his life and legacy can live on in our town."
"It's heavy knowing that I am carrying a part of him. He gave me life, but he also gave me responsibility," said Keith Noble who is all smiles while playing basketball with his friends in Fairfield. Noble received one of Matt's kidneys after the killing and since the transplant has seen his life change dramatically. He can now play hoops with his friends. He is searching for a job, and he feels like he can finally live the life he wants to live. "I can live for me but I also need to give to others, because that's what Matt would have done," Noble said.
One year to the day after the murder of Garcia his father Matthew Garcia sits in front of his son's grave at the Fairmont Cemetery in Fairfied. The city has changed in many ways since the councilman's passing and several things are being done in the Garcia's name to improve the city. However Fairfield will never know how much Garcia could have accomplished for the community he served and the city he believed in. "We lost a leader, but we gained a legacy." said Fairfield police chief Paul Bockrath. "In death he has galvanized a movement in our communtiy. Is it more than what he would have accomplished in life? Maybe not, but it's powerful and important for Faifield nonetheless."
Posted on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 6:06 pm. Filed under: Photography RSS 2.0 feed.
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Matt Garcia, center, is congratulated by his grandmother, left, and other supporters as election results are announced that place him several votes ahead of Jack Batson for one of the two open seats on the Fairfield City Council. Garcia, 21, is the youngest person ever elected to the Fairfield city council and is the youngest councilman currently serving in California.
Garcia ran on a pledge of improving community in Fairfield through helping youth and decreasing crime. His run galvanized youth in the city and after being elected he work diligently to put his plans into action. For nine months he lived his long time dream of serving Fairfield, until on Sept. 1, 2008 he was murdered in the streets of the city he loved.
Fairfield police officers inspect the murder scene of city councilman Matt Garcia. Garcia was shot in the head in a case of mistaken identity. The gunman was trying to shoot at another man who owed him less than $100 for drugs. He mistook Garcia's car for that mans and fire at Garcia when he was in the driveway of a friends house. Within days the killers were apprehended in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"I just can't believe he's gone," said Eric Medina, while he was visiting a memorial to slain councilman Garcia outside of city hall two days after he was shot. "He came and spoke to my high school class just a few weeks ago, and he told me and my friends that I should get involved in helping the community." In the days after Garcia's murder signs and memorials to the young leader sprung up everywhere.
Thousands of people march through the streets of Fairfield during the Matt Garcia Memorial Unity March Saturday morning. Attendees of the event made a pledge of personal peace and nonviolence in honor of the slain Fairfield city councilman.
"I keep it up to honor him, and to remind people of what he stood for," said local barber Ted Musselman of the Garcia poster that hangs in his barbershop window. The Garcia posters hang in classrooms, restaurants, city offices and on street poles throughout town. "We just wanted people not to forget about Matt and to keep working for Fairfield," Matt's step-father Raymond Courtemanche said of the signs. Every six months since his death old faded signs have been replaced with new ones.
Matt Garcia's grandmother Chris Garcia cries while saying a prayer in her grandson's room. Chris Garcia has kept a candle burning in the room ever since her son was murdered. "Sometimes I come in here to pray, and I can feel Matt with me," she said. "He always would say to me, 'I'm so blessed.' But now i say that it was us who were blessed to have known him."
Kenneth Good, of Hogan High School in Vallejo, talks with prospective employers during the Solano Student Summit Wednesday in Vallejo. The event, which was was organized to help at-risk youth find employment and volunteer opportunities, was started by Garcia before he was killed and hugely attended by local youth.
Garcia's mother Teresa Courtemanche sobs when seeing her son's killer for the first time during an arraignment at Solano County Superior Court. The trial is progressing at a fairly slow pace due to the high profile nature of the crime. Officials from the District Attorney's office would not comment on the case which has been moved out of Fairfield to neighboring Vallejo, Calif.
Fairfield youth box and play basketball at the Matt Garcia Youth Center. The center, which Garcia worked hard for during his nine months on city council, was opened six months after his death. It's goal is to keep at-risk youth off the streets after school. The center furthers Garcia's campaign goals of building community through helping youth in Fairfield. It was originally set to be named after another well-known Fairfield resident, "But after Matt's death it was a no-brainer that we name it after him," Fairfield city councilman Chuck Timm said, adding that, "It's one small way that his life and legacy can live on in our town."
"It's heavy knowing that I am carrying a part of him. He gave me life, but he also gave me responsibility," said Keith Noble who is all smiles while playing basketball with his friends in Fairfield. Noble received one of Matt's kidneys after the killing and since the transplant has seen his life change dramatically. He can now play hoops with his friends. He is searching for a job, and he feels like he can finally live the life he wants to live. "I can live for me but I also need to give to others, because that's what Matt would have done," Noble said.
One year to the day after the murder of Garcia his father Matthew Garcia sits in front of his son's grave at the Fairmont Cemetery in Fairfied. The city has changed in many ways since the councilman's passing and several things are being done in the Garcia's name to improve the city. However Fairfield will never know how much Garcia could have accomplished for the community he served and the city he believed in. "We lost a leader, but we gained a legacy." said Fairfield police chief Paul Bockrath. "In death he has galvanized a movement in our communtiy. Is it more than what he would have accomplished in life? Maybe not, but it's powerful and important for Faifield nonetheless."
Chris, I stumbled upon your site while examining photographer’s sites. I keep turning people onto it. I just posted this on Facebook:
Chris Jordan is an extraordinary news journalist. I keep reading his essay about slain Fairfield City Councilman Matt Garcia. Chris’ site is so beautifully designed. His content inspires me, but I can’t read it without crying. Chris Jordan is an artist who fearlessly documents those who deserve to be remembered and recognized. Pls share his amazing portfolio.
Thank you Chris and much continued success!