A tragic incident unfolded in California when a well-known fitness influencer and her companion were fatally shot by her estranged husband, who was subsequently killed by an off-duty police officer, according to law enforcement and family statements. Gloria Zamora, a mother of seven with a substantial Instagram following of over 150,000, and her companion, Hector Garduno, a father of four, were murdered late Saturday in a sushi restaurant parking lot in Fontana. The incident left 11 children without parents.
The assailant was identified as Thomas Alberto Tamayo Lizarraga, Zamora’s second husband. The shooting occurred just days after Zamora, a 40-year-old fitness influencer, announced on her podcast, “HERizon,” that she was planning to leave him. Officer Steve Reed of the Fontana Police Department stated that the couple was in the process of divorcing, which may have been a contributing factor to the tragic event.
The circumstances surrounding how Lizarraga knew of Zamora’s location remain unclear. According to Officer Reed, Zamora had been at the restaurant for about an hour before the shooting took place.
Several off-duty law enforcement officers were in the vicinity when the shooting occurred. One off-duty San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy, who was passing by the shopping center, witnessed the shooting. The deputy quickly turned his vehicle around, confronted Lizarraga, and fatally shot him. The identity of the deputy has not been disclosed.
An online fundraiser for Zamora’s family stated that she leaves behind seven children, ranging in age from 8 to 24. One of her daughters, Jazlynne Zamora, described her mother as a beacon in her community who inspired countless women. She also revealed that her mother was killed by her stepfather in an act of unimaginable violence.
Garduno’s children have also started a GoFundMe campaign, describing their father as a devoted and hardworking man who was tragically taken from them too soon. The Fontana police department has stated that the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.