Man Gets Consecutive Life Sentences In Fatal American Canyon Shooting

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Christopher "Roly" Young was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the August 2020 shooting death of 18-year-old Nathan Gabriel Garza in the parking lot of Safeway in American Canyon, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced.

Young's sentencing was the culmination of a thorough investigation and lengthy trial in which Napa County Deputy District Attorneys Taryn Hunter and Diane Knoles proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Young was solely responsible for the Aug. 16, 2020, murder, DA's Office Spokesperson Carlos Villatoro said.

Garza lived in Fairfield and several of his friends and family members were at the sentencing Friday, including his mother, Tracy Garza, who read a witness impact statement to the court.

“My world, my family, my very being was shattered when Nathan was taken from us,” Tracy Garza said. “It has taken almost three years for the justice system, the honorable men and women in law enforcement and the Napa County District Attorney’s Office, and a panel of brave and
dedicated jurors to find Christopher Young guilty of all charges, describing and depicting the
ruthless murder of my son Nathan Gabriel Garza. No parent or loved one should have to see
or hear what we have endured during this process. We live with this knowledge and horrifying
images every moment, of every day, of our lives.”

Napa County Superior Court Judge Elia Ortiz sentenced Young to two consecutive terms — one term of life without the possibility of parole and the other of 28 years to life. Ortiz also ordered a restitution amount to be paid to Garza's loved ones and to the California Victim Compensation Board.

A Napa jury found Young, 26, of Martinez, guilty May 11 of first-degree murder in Garza's death.

It was just after noon Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, when Garza was outside Safeway on West American Canyon Road fulfilling curbside grocery orders when Young shot him in the back, twice.

"Nathan Garza was simply delivering groceries to customers and was gunned down in a completely unprovoked attack," Villatoro told Patch for a previous story about this case.

Garza was a recent graduate of Rodriguez High School and was working a summer job at Safeway in American Canyon before continuing his studies at Diablo Valley College. He was a young man who had his whole life ahead of him before he was ambushed by Young, a stranger to him, Napa County Deputy DA Knoles said.

Immediately after shooting Garza from the Cadillac sedan he drove to Safeway, Young sped away from the parking lot and abandoned his car on nearby Cattail Drive. Napa County sheriff's deputies apprehended Young shortly after receiving several reports of him hopping fences and entering back yards of neighborhood homes.

Jurors also convicted Young of shooting from a motor vehicle, felon in possession of a
firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and giving false information to a police officer.
Jurors also found true the special circumstances of personally and intentionally discharging a firearm, firing a weapon from a vehicle with the intent to inflict death, and of lying in wait.

"Thankfully the jury saw through Young’s contrived defense and convicted him on all charges
and allegations," Knoles said. "The defendant has not demonstrated a shred of remorse for
Nathan or for his devastated family. We are grateful that this sentence provides justice by
ensuring that he will never again be a threat to anyone and that he will be punished to the
fullest extent possible."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Deadly Shooting Sunday In American Canyon
• Arrest Made In Fatal Shooting At Safeway In American Canyon: NCSO
• Napa Jury Convicts Man Of Murder In Fatal American Canyon Shooting