Fundraiser planned for officer injured in shooting

A campaign has begun to raise funds for San Bernardino Officer Gabriel Garcia, who was critically injured in the early morning hours of Friday, August 22, when he and a trainee faced a heavily armored gunman.

Garcia has been in a medically-induced coma since the tragic events unfolded, according to a release from the San Bernardino Police Department. Garcia’s father, a life-long member of the San Bernardino Police Department, has stayed at his son’s side in the hospital since the shooting happened, officials said.

Heroes Memorial Foundation launched the campaign, ‘Lights on for Officer Gabriel Garcia’. The foundation asks people to place a blue light bulb in their porch lights at sundown on Friday, August 29, to support Garcia.

A fundraiser to support Garcia will also take place on Saturday from 5 p.m. until closing time at the Dairy Queen and Queen Bean Caffe, located at 12045 5th Street in Yucaipa.

“Fifteen percent of the total sales from 5:00 to closing time will be donated to the Garcia Family,” Dairy Queen manager Meghan Nielson said. “We close at 11 p.m. and the Queen Bean closes at 9:00.”

On Monday, more than 1,000 members of the community, police officers and firefighters attended a prayer vigil at San Bernardino’s San Manuel Stadium.