Bail was set at $550,000 Feb. 18 for the drunk driver charged with killing Maruta Gardner, a well-known activist who died while she was painting over graffiti in Mission Beach on Feb. 12. An April 20 preliminary hearing was set for Jonathan Domingo Garcia, 23, who is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, two counts of hit and run, vandalism and driving under the influence of alcohol. Deputy District Attorney Steve Schott told San Diego Superior Court Judge Jay Bloom that Garcia and some others were drinking alcohol at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 while on Mission Boulevard. He said Garcia and others slashed some car tires, after which Garcia got into his black Toyota and rear-ended a white Mustang near where Gardner was painting. Garcia pulled out, and his car allegedly struck Gardner. Scott said Garcia drove off and struck another car before police officers arrested him. While in custody, an officer told him that Gardner might die. “He showed absolutely no emotion,” said Schott, adding that Garcia then asked if his car was damaged. Bloom said Garcia was a flight risk and “a danger to the community” while setting bail at $550,000. The prosecutor said if Garcia is convicted, he faces 15 years in state prison. Garcia pleaded not guilty, and his attorney did not make an argument for reduced bail. Gardner was well-known in Mission Beach and Pacific Beach and was honored by the City Council on Nov. 3, 2015. She often took photos of the graffiti to send to police before painting over it.