A former Wolves football player was shot and killed in Oak Harbor Saturday.

Adam Garcia was just 21 years old.

Prosecutors charged the alleged shooter, 23-year-old Christopher Malaga, in Island County Superior Court with second-degree murder.

A group of law enforcement officials led by Oak Harbor police arrested Malaga in Bellingham Tuesday.

Garcia starting attending school in Coupeville in 2000, after his family moved from Yakima. He quickly made friends and excelled at sports.

His mother, Bettie Sifuentes, said her son, who was known as “Bato” by his family members, especially loved football. He was No. 33 and played running back and middle linebacker.

The school will hold a moment of silence for Garcia at the start of the homecoming game Friday.

Jay Silver, former football coach for Coupeville, remembered Garcia as a hard worker and positive presence on the team.

“He was always very respectful and, many times, spoke to me about his baby girl,” he said. “Even as a senior in high school he was ready and willing to step up and do everything he could to support his daughter. Of all the mistakes he may have made in school or other areas of his life, his little girl was not one of them,” Silver said. “It was very evident to anyone that knew him that he loved her deeply.”

Mike Churchill, Garcia’s former teammate, described his friend as being very genuine and loyal.

“He was a person who went to the beat of his own drummer,” Churchill said. “He was a very determined person.” Nothing would hold him back if he wanted to do it.”

Sifuentes said her son’s true character was most evident when he was with his beloved daughter, 5-year-old Sophia.

“You could just see the love on his face when he looks at her,” she said. “It was so genuine.”

Garcia’s uncle, Michael Pelzer, compared his nephew to Seahawks great Marshawn Lynch. Lynch, he said, might seem like a tough guy to the casual observer, but he’s really a community-minded person with a heart of gold. Likewise, Garcia dressed in hoodies and loose pants and may have had a hard exterior sometimes, but he had a kind, generous heart.

“He was definitely not a ‘gangsta,’” he said.

“He was a big Teddy bear, but he wouldn’t show it,” agreed his aunt, Michelle Armstrong.

In fact, Garcia hated bullying and stood up for a friend who was targeted at school. He also borrowed money from his grandma to give to homeless people.

He loved holidays, said his family. He had pumpkin carving contests with Pelzer. Baker said he managed to sneak into her house one December night and put up a large Christmas tree and decorated it without waking her up.

Everyone agreed that Garcia was a good son and very protective, though he had a wicked sense of humor at times.

“My son came home every night,” she said. “When he left, he always said, ‘I love you and I’ll be back.”

Sifuentes said she was on her way to Seattle Saturday when she learned that Garcia hadn’t returned as expected. After four hours of confusion, she got the news no mother wants to hear.

“We will get justice,” she said. “We will get answers.”