Ernie Buchanan, a 44-year-old security guard, tragically lost his life on December 28, 2019, while working at the Alpha Project's homeless shelter in East Village, San Diego. Buchanan was shot and killed outside the shelter, where he had been employed since its opening in early November. His family described him as a dedicated individual who loved helping and serving others. Buchanan's death left a significant void in the lives of his six children and four grandchildren.
His brother, Mark Forte, shared that Buchanan had expressed his satisfaction with his job just a day before the incident, making the sudden and violent nature of his death even more shocking.
The investigation into Buchanan's murder led to the arrest of two men, Floyd Garrett and Johnny Lee Hill. Both were charged with second-degree murder. Surveillance footage and smart streetlight cameras captured the men waiting for Buchanan to return from a meal break before opening fire on him. Buchanan was unarmed and did not provoke the attackers. Garrett and Hill were also convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm for injuring another security guard during the shooting. The motive for the killing was not explicitly disclosed, but it was suggested that Buchanan had previously told Hill not to sell drugs near the shelter.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, both men were found guilty. Garrett was sentenced to 113 years to life in prison, while Hill received a sentence of 81 years to life. The court hearings revealed that the killing was committed to benefit and promote the gang to which the defendants allegedly belonged. Despite Hill's claim of self-defense, the evidence presented at trial, including DNA found on spent cartridges and surveillance footage, supported the prosecution's case. The sentences handed down to Garrett and Hill reflect the severity of their crimes and the impact of Buchanan's death on his family and the community.
