Wife Arrested in Alleged Plot on Man’s Life

At first the late-night shooting appeared unremarkable to police: A man awakened by noises confronted and critically wounded an intruder in his garage.

But it turned out the intruder was his sister-in-law.

And as investigators probed that strange twist, they uncovered a bizarre alleged murder plot, with police announcing Saturday that the man’s wife and her sister had conspired to kill him.

Nicole A. Garza, 32, wife of Jose Garza, the intended victim of the alleged plot, was arrested late Friday at the couple’s Sylmar home on suspicion of attempted murder, police said Saturday. Nicole and Jose Garza are lawyers.

Los Angeles Police Det. Lindy Gligorijevic said more arrest warrants have been issued, but declined to elaborate, citing a court gag order. The warrants have been sealed. A terse police news release said the motive for the alleged plot is undetermined.

Police arrested Nicole Garza’s sister, Lynette LaFontaine-Trujillo, after she allegedly broke into the couple’s garage late Wednesday night and was shot by Jose Garza.

LaFontaine-Trujillo, 35, remained in critical condition at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills early Saturday, police said.

After the shooting, police uncovered “more information that linked up the wife with a conspiracy to dispatch Mr. Garza to his ancestors,” said Sgt. Robert Williams.

Police said the Garzas reported that they heard sounds in their garage in the 13700 block of Herrick Avenue about 10:50 p.m. Wednesday. Jose Garza got up to investigate. He confronted LaFontaine-Trujillo in the garage, and the two exchanged gunfire, investigators said. LaFontaine-Trujillo was hit in the upper body. Two days later, police returned to the home to arrest Nicole Garza.

Nicole and Jose Garza have three children, a girl, 4, and two boys, ages 3 and about 16 months, neighbors said. Jose Garza also has adult children from another marriage.

The couple appeared to be happy and often took their children for walks, neighbors said. A few months ago, Nicole Garza threw a birthday bash for her husband, one woman recalled.

“They are a very sweet couple,” said another woman, who asked not to be identified. “It’s shocking. . . . She [Nicole Garza] is the sweetest woman and a good mother.”

Jose Garza was not at the couple’s home Saturday afternoon. A man who identified himself as a family friend said he was staying there to take care of the Garzas’ children in their absence.

Neighbors said Nicole Garza told some acquaintances that the burglary occurred because her sister, recently divorced, was jealous of her and Jose.

Jose and Nicole Garza were seen together after the shooting, and it appeared that there was no trouble between them, neighbors said.

Times staff writers Ann W. O’Neill, Jose Cardenas and Martha L. Willman contributed to this story.