On December 11, a Travis County jury found Elliott Garcia guilty of murder, a verdict that followed a violent altercation at a south Austin strip club in September 2023.
Garcia was sentenced to 30 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, according to a release from the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.
The case, which drew local attention, involved a confrontation that escalated into a fatal shooting.
The details of the incident and the legal proceedings have been reported by KXAN.
The Conviction and Sentence
The jury’s decision came after a thorough examination of evidence presented during the trial. Garcia, who the release lists as 43 years old, was found guilty on December 11, 2023. The sentencing, announced the same day, set a 30-year term in TDCJ. The release emphasized that the conviction followed a murder charge stemming from the September 2023 incident.
The Incident at the Strip Club
On September 9, 2023, the Austin Police Department arrested and charged Garcia with murder for fatally shooting Philip Patrick Foley, 40. The confrontation began when Garcia argued with a server while paying his tab, leading him to shove a female server in the face. Staff and customers confronted him, and the club staff asked him to leave. While waiting outside for a ride, Foley approached Garcia, and the altercation outside resulted in Garcia pulling a pistol from his holster and shooting Foley in the abdomen.
Arrest, Indictment, and Trial
Garcia was arrested immediately after the shooting and was indicted on December 2, 2023. The indictment followed the arrest and formal charging by the Austin Police Department. The trial proceeded with a Travis County jury, culminating in the guilty verdict on December 11. KXAN had previously reported on the arrest and indictment details.
Aftermath and Current Status
Following the conviction, Garcia was sentenced to 30 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The release from the District Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentence and noted the finality of the legal process. KXAN reached out to Garcia’s attorney for a comment, but a statement has not yet been received. The case remains a significant event in Austin’s recent criminal justice news.
Key Takeaways
- Elliott Garcia was convicted of murder on December 11, 2023.
- He received a 30-year sentence in Texas state prison.
- The fatal shooting occurred after a dispute at a south Austin strip club on September 9, 2023.
The case underscores the severe consequences of violent altercations and the swift legal response by Austin authorities.
