Livermore police are asking for the public's help in locating a man believed to be responsible for a deadly shooting at a bowling alley over the weekend.
Police identified the suspect in the Saturday evening shooting at Granada Bowl as 27-year-old Roger Aleman Garcia, also known as Roger Aleman. He should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.
Garcia is accused of fatally shooting Antonio Vargas, 28, of Livermore, police said.
Vargas was with friends at the bar area of the bowling alley when they got into a verbal altercation with Garcia, police said. The altercation escalated into a physical fight and came to an end when Garcia allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot Vargas and his 28-year-old friend. Garcia's 30-year-old friend was also hit by gunfire during the shooting.
"This all went down for him defending a friend," Eric Medina, Vargas's cousin, said. "That was the type of person he was. He always defended everybody."
Vargas died at the scene. The two other victims were rushed to a local hospital, police said. They are expected to survive.
Livermore police have served several search warrants related to the shooting and search for Garcia. He is a convicted felon with an "extensive" criminal history, including an assault with a deadly weapon, according to police. He is barred from possessing a firearm.
"I heard he was a felon, and he shouldn’t be having a gun," said Justin Thompson of Livermore. "No matter the laws, you can always get around it it seems like.”
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
Anyone with information about Garcia's whereabouts is asked to call the Livermore Police Department's anonymous tip line at 925-371-4790. Police are offering an undisclosed reward for information leading to Garcia's arrest.
Family members said their plea for justice won't stop until the suspect has been found and arrested.
"If you guys know who this person was, please step forward and speak out," Medina said.
The bowling alley reopened Monday night for the first time since the shooting with limited hours.
The owner said he wants to give his staff time to grieve and heal.
"I couldn't believe it. We come here all the time and it's devastating to hear it," said Joey Vargas of Livermore. "Everybody is normally happy, we always have a good time. We never have any complications here and it’s a beautiful spot to come. It’s definitely not a sign of what Livermore is all about, it’s a fluke.”
