Suspect in 2022 Pacific Beach waterfront killing extradited to San Diego after prolonged Texas detention

Felipe Villegas booked into county jail in case tied to fatal shooting of Mary Garcia

A man identified by San Diego investigators as the suspect in a fatal 2022 shooting on the Pacific Beach waterfront has been extradited back to San Diego and booked into custody, moving a long-running homicide case toward court proceedings.

Felipe Villegas, 30, was booked into the San Diego Central Jail on a Wednesday in late February 2026 in connection with the death of Mary Garcia, 65, who was shot on Sept. 13, 2022, on the beach near the western end of Reed Avenue. Officers responding shortly after 12:30 a.m. found Garcia with bystanders attempting to help; she was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

Early arrest later reversed as investigation shifted

The case drew attention in its first hours because Garcia’s son, Daniel Caldera, was initially arrested on suspicion of murder later the same day. Prosecutors filed a murder charge, and Caldera entered a not-guilty plea. Within days, the charge was dismissed and Caldera was released after investigators identified Villegas as the alleged shooter and concluded Caldera was no longer a suspect.

The sequence underscores the rapid pace and uncertainty that can accompany early-stage homicide investigations, when police often act on preliminary evidence and witness accounts while forensic testing and follow-up interviews continue.

Detention in Texas delayed transfer for more than three years

Villegas was arrested in West Texas days after the Pacific Beach killing, and San Diego’s efforts to bring him back were delayed as Texas criminal proceedings moved forward. Authorities have said the extradition to San Diego was held for nearly 42 months while the out-of-state case proceeded.

San Diego police have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooting and have said there appeared to be no known connection between Garcia and the suspect, describing the case as involving the fatal shooting of a stranger along the waterfront.

What happens next in the San Diego case

With Villegas now in local custody, the case is positioned for the next procedural steps typical in a murder prosecution, including initial court appearances, advisement of rights, and litigation over evidence and witness testimony. The timeline for hearings and any trial setting will depend on court scheduling, charging decisions and pretrial motions.

• Victim: Mary Garcia, 65, killed Sept. 13, 2022, at Pacific Beach near Reed Avenue.

• Suspect in custody: Felipe Villegas, 30, extradited and booked into San Diego Central Jail in February 2026.

• Earlier arrest: Daniel Caldera was charged, pleaded not guilty, then released after the charge was dismissed and investigators identified a new suspect.

• Key unresolved issue: Investigators have not publicly detailed a motive and have stated there was no known relationship between Garcia and the suspect.

Extradition marks a procedural turning point, but the allegations will be tested in court through evidence disclosures, hearings and adversarial review.

The case remains active, and additional details may emerge through court filings and future hearings now that the suspect has been returned to San Diego jurisdiction.