BOISE – An Ada County jury has returned a guilty verdict on all counts for a Nampa man charged with stabbing two people at a Boise nightclub last year. One man died in the attack.
Jesus Manuel Garcia was found guilty of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony and possession of a controlled substance.
The jury deliberated for five hours Thursday before reached the guilty verdicts.
The charges stem from an incident at China Blue back in January of 2017.
Prosecutors say Garcia got into an altercation with two men, pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed them repeatedly.
Daviel Ruiz-Gomez, 21, later died at the hospital from his injuries. The other victim was stabbed in the torso but survived.
Prosecutors say Garcia has a long rap sheet, including prior arrests for violent crimes. He had been arrested in Canyon County for felony possession of a controlled substance just three weeks before the stabbing but was out on bond.
Garcia admitted to officers that he had used meth before the stabbing, and had some of the drug in his pocket.
The trial lasted eight days. Garcia did take the stand in his own defense on Wednesday.
Sentencing is set for June 15 at 1 p.m. Garcia could face up to life in prison.
