On Monday, July 30, 1979, Deputy Albert Garza, a Process Server in the Courts Division, spent the day searching for a witness in a Capital Murder case when he decided to stop by a jewelry store in the 2600 block of Richmond to visit the owner. At approximately 5:45 P.M., two men entered the store and asked to look at some rings. The owner of the store made a comment to Deputy Garza that things didn’t look right, so Deputy Garza walked to the back office and watched through the office’s glass window.

A short time passed when the owner signaled to Deputy Garza that something was wrong. Deputy Garza, wearing a suit, took off his jacket displaying his badge and gun. He approached the counter and advised the owner that he would wait on the two men. One of the men had talked about placing a ring on hold, so the owner turned and walked to another counter to get a layaway tag. Deputy Garza walked over to the area where the owner was, and as he turned back, one of the men pulled a gun and shot him once in the neck. Deputy Garza fell against the owner, who managed to scramble to the back office and get a gun. A running gun battle ensued between the owner and the two men, with the owner emptying three different guns at the suspects. Deputy Garza died at the scene. The suspects were later apprehended and charged with Capital Murder of a Peace Officer. Deputy Albert Garza was killed on his 48th birthday.