28-Year-Old Man Surrenders Following Convenience Store Shooting

BARTOW, FL -- A 28-year-old man surrendered to Polk County Sheriff's deputies Monday night in connection with a deadly confrontation outside a convenience store over the weekend that resulted in the death of 29-year-old Julian Garcia of Apopka.

Joshua Jay Pacheco was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, violation of probation and tampering with evidence following the incident outside the Citgo Food Market Saturday night at 4660 Highway 17 North in Bartow.

Pacheco, who surrendered at the Polk County Sheriff's Office, told detectives he was waiting for his girlfriend to pick him up when he was attacked by Garcia, the sheriff's office said.

"Pacheco said they both fell to the ground and he admitted to displaying a handgun," explained the Polk County Sheriff's Office. "He said the gun went off because Garcia attempted to get the gun once he saw it. Garcia was taken to the hospital where he died from a gunshot wound."

The sheriff's office said Pacheco fled after the shooting. "He told deputies he was scared due to being on probation and his convicted felon status," the sheriff's office said. "He also told deputies he later removed his clothes and threw them into a dumpster."

Pacheco turned the gun into detectives and was being held in lieu of $50,000 bond, according to the sheriff's office.