An Orlando man accused of attacking his ex-girlfriend in Deltona, pointing a gun at her head and pulling the trigger is in custody in Volusia County after law enforcement tracked him down across the state in Citrus County.
Pablo Eduardo Garcia, 27, was booked at the Volusia County Branch Jail on his warrants for attempted first-degree murder, armed sexual battery, false imprisonment, armed kidnapping with a firearm and possession of firearm by a convicted felon.
Detectives and FDLE agents tracked him down Friday in Crystal River, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Garcia attacked his ex-girlfriend at her Deltona home in the early-morning hours of September 16th. He armed himself with a handgun, punched her in the face multiple times and pointed the gun at her. During a struggle, the gun went off and left a bullet hole in the headboard of her bed. Garcia pointed the gun at the victim a second time and pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed.
The victim described Garcia as being manic and pacing while holding the gun for more than two hours. After the gun went off, Garcia ordered her to text her landlord in case he heard the shot, to assure him everything was OK. She did and Garcia then destroyed her cell phone and Apple watch, smashing them both with the gun. Throughout the events, she said Garcia blocked the door and wouldn’t allow her to leave.
Garcia also sexually battered and punched the victim as the attack continued.
The victim was eventually able to escape with her dog after Garcia fell asleep. She had cuts and bruises consistent with her account of the attack, and was treated at an Orlando hospital.
Garcia’s criminal history shows he is a convicted felon in Florida; he was convicted of felony battery and battery on a person 65 years of age or older in 2017 in Orange County. Other past charges include domestic battery, witness tampering and felony battery with great bodily harm.
