On the night of September 25, at around 8:19 p.m., shots were reported in the 14300 block of Darrah Drive, in Harris County, Texas. When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, they found 22-year-old Trin Thuyen dead from a gunshot wound.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) and local detectives took over the investigation. District 4 Sheriff Mark Herman confirmed that the victim could not be saved despite the rapid response from medical services.

A deadly "challenge"

According to the official version, Jaret Donovan Garcia and Thuyen were participating in a "quick-draw" game, which consists of pointing semi-automatic weapons at each other to see who can draw and shoot the fastest.

In the midst of the game, Garcia allegedly pulled the trigger and killed Trin. A formal complaint filed with the Harris County Clerk's Office accuses him of murder for having committed "an act clearly dangerous to human life."

On Monday, Garcia appeared in court for the first time. He was denied bail and will remain in custody while the case moves forward.

The prosecution will seek to demonstrate that pulling the trigger in that context constituted a deliberate and unjustifiable act, while the defense could argue that it was an involuntary shot with no intention to kill, within the context of a "game."

Authorities recalled that even an unloaded weapon should never be pointed at another person, much less used as part of a challenge.