1/17/2025

ASHLAND - An Ashland man who witnessed and video recorded the incident that led to the shooting deaths of brothers Manuel and Luis Garcia Salas was called to testify.

Co-owner of Taqueria La Monarca, Aquiles Garcia testified that he and the brothers went to the Stagecoach and when they entered Monkelien made a racial comment and that he had actually had a conversation with Monkelien as the bar was closing. Later, Monkelien approached him holding a metal bar while he was in his vehicle and the brothers walked up to speak to him Garcia said it then that he started recording the confrontation, with Manuel Salas brandishing what appeared to be a knife and speaking to Monkelien. Garcia turned off the camera the sound of the metal bar hitting the ground could be heard and then several gunshots being fired. Garcia said he saw the gun, and moved because he thought he might get hit. He then called the brother of the two men, Ricardo Garcia to let him know what happened. He said he didn’t call the police right after the event and that Ricardo Garcia didn’t return to the taqueria the next day. The trial is expected to continue throughout the rest of the month. Monkelien is facing life in prison if convicted.