Man Faces 25 Years To Life For Downtown Port Jefferson Slaying: DA

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — A 20-year-old man, who prosecutors say laughed and joked about gunning down a man in broad daylight in downtown Port Jefferson, is facing 25 yearsn to life in prison following a murder conviction that was handed down last week.

Joseph Garcia of Port Jefferson faces 25 years-to-life for a second-degree murder charge, three-and-a-half to 15 years for criminal possession of a weapon, and one year for a criminal contempt charge. He will be sentenced on May 9.

On the afternoon of March 24, 2021, Garcia shot 25-year-old David Bliss of Shirley once in the abdomen, causing his death "within minutes," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said, citing trial evidence, adding that the two men did not know each other but they had gotten into an argument while Bliss was walking on Main Street to pick up a pizza.

Multiple video sources captured the shooting "and clearly showed Garcia deliberately" firing a gun at Bliss and then trying to pull the trigger "at least two additional times but the gun apparently jammed," according to Tierney's office.

After the shooting, Garcia and "his associates" fled the shooting in a vehicle going to a Setauket home, which was equipped with video surveillance outside and inside, Tierney's office said, adding that the video showed Garcia arriving with the gun used in the murder about 10 minutes after.

The video showed Garcia laughing and joking about the shooting, and in the audio, Garcia can be heard admitting to the shooting and making plans to leave Suffolk to avoid being arrested, according to Tierney's office.

Tierney caused Bliss' slaying "a brazen murder," noting that it took place in broad daylight in a crowded business district, and "shook the community."

“We hope that the jury’s verdict finding defendant, [Joseph Garcia], guilty on all counts will give solace to both the community and to the family of David Bliss," he said. "Wanton violence like this will not be tolerated.”

Michael DeSantis contributed additional reporting to this story.