A Central Islip man was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for fatally shooting a 19-year-old during an attempted robbery in 2022, Suffolk County prosecutors said.
Erick Garcia, 22, pleaded guilty in July to first-degree manslaughter in the death of Carlos Guillen of Bay Shore. Garcia also pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with an unrelated gun case.
According to court documents and Garcia’s statements during his guilty plea, Garcia arranged to meet Guillen on Oct. 1, 2022, as part of a plan to rob him.
When Guillen arrived at the location Garcia selected, Garcia entered the passenger side of Guillen’s vehicle and attempted to rob him at gunpoint, prosecutors said.
Guillen accelerated and drove away with Garcia still inside the vehicle. Garcia then shot Guillen in the neck at point-blank range and jumped from the vehicle while it was still moving, according to prosecutors.
Guillen attempted to call 911 but was unable to speak during the call. His vehicle crashed, and he was transported to South Shore University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from the gunshot wound.
Cellphone records placed Garcia’s phone near the shooting when it occurred and showed that he fled to Florida the following day in an apparent attempt to avoid capture, prosecutors said.
Garcia was arrested in Central Islip on Nov. 10, 2022, after police found him with a loaded, unserialized 9 mm firearm. Authorities do not believe that weapon was connected to Guillen’s killing.
Garcia was arrested on homicide charges on April 11, 2024, following an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad.
He pleaded guilty July 7 to first-degree manslaughter, a Class B violent felony, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C violent felony.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski sentenced Garcia to 25 years in prison for manslaughter and five years for the weapon conviction. The sentences will run concurrently and will be followed by five years of post-release supervision.
“The defendant arranged the meeting, brought the gun, and decided to commit a violent robbery, costing a young man his life and causing the family immeasurable grief,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty of the Homicide Bureau. The unrelated gun case was handled by Assistant District Attorney Kerri Wasson of the Major Crime Bureau.
