New York lawyer shot to death while on holiday in Chile

A Staten Island lawyer who devoted his life to public service was gunned down while on holiday in Chile earlier this month, leaving his family struggling to make sense of the tragedy.

Eric Garvin, 38, has been missing since January 14, when he was last seen in the capital, Santiago.

A week later, his family received the devastating news that their son had been killed and his body was in the hospital morgue.

“This is the darkest chapter of our lives because we are living through every parent’s worst nightmare,” his father, Eric D. Garvin, wrote on Facebook.

A Staten Island resident was gunned down on the street after taking a photo of a building later that day in a seemingly accidental attack.

He was shot three times by three to four people who also stole his phone, Eric D. Garvin. ABC 7 said.

Eric Garvin was mortally wounded and robbed while on holiday in Chile. Photo: Eric D. Garvin/facebook.

“They told us that my son innocently walked down the street, stopped for a moment, took a picture of a building in an area infested with drugs,” he said. “And right after that, three gentlemen crossed the street, grabbed my son, stole his phone and shot him three times, and he died on the spot.”

Garvin Jr. was reportedly on his way to dinner when he was shot.

The distraught father said that his son died “doing what he loved, that is, traveling abroad.”

He estimates that he visited more than 40 countries in his lifetime, many with his sister Naomi Garvin.

“I want people to be more like him, I want people to create space for each other,” she told ABC 7. “I want them to be interested in meeting each other and getting to know each other’s cultures.”

His family said he loves to travel and has been to over 40 countries. Photo: Eric D. Garvin/facebook

He was scheduled to fly to Argentina the day after he was killed to continue his journey with his friend, who was also on the trip, but not with him when he was shot.

Garvin Jr. moved to Staten Island from Maryland ten years ago and graduated from the state law school. He has served on the City Council as well as the City Hall’s Office of Criminal Justice, where he served as Senior Project Manager until 2021.

Under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, he worked on initiatives to combat gun violence in areas like Brownsville, ABC reports.

Eric Garvin’s family learned that he was killed a week after he went missing. credit: Eric D. Garvin/facebook

Eric D. Garvin said that he and his wife “experience every parent’s worst nightmare.” credit: Eric D. Garvin/facebook

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His family said he died doing what he loved. credit: Eric D. Garvin/facebook

His father and sister flew to Chile to retrieve his body and speak with investigators. credit: Eric D. Garvin/facebook

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Several elected officials expressed their condolences on Twitter.

“Deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Eric Garvin,” This was announced by a member of the Legislative Assembly of Staten Island, Charles Fall. “Eric has been a dear friend to me and many others in our community. My sincere condolences to Margie Garvin and the entire Garvin family.”

Marjorie Garvin is the grandmother of Eric Garvin and a respected social activist in the Black Staten Islanders. She has been honored by Congress for her work to increase voter registration.

His father and sister traveled to Chile on Monday to meet with investigators and officials from the US embassy in Santiago. They also arrange services to bring his body home.

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