You wouldn’t expect a Friday night sushi run to turn into a deadly scene. But in Fontana, California, that’s exactly what happened. Fitness coach and social media star Gloria Zamora—who’d just opened up about her pending divorce—finished up dinner with a friend when her estranged husband showed up and turned a peaceful evening into a nightmare.
Zamora, 40, and her date, 43-year-old Hector Garduno, were hanging out in the parking lot outside a Summit Avenue sushi restaurant when gunfire erupted. Officer Steve Reed from Fontana PD explains, “There was a male and a female who were estranged; they were going through a divorce, which led to this.”
Investigators say Zamora’s soon-to-be ex, accused of tracking her down, opened fire on both of them. Investigators haven’t said how he knew she was there, only that she’d been at the restaurant for about an hour before she was killed, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
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What followed next is like something from a movie: several off-duty officers in the area heard the shots. One of them—a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy—was driving past when he spied the aftermath. “Apparently, he was driving on the street outside the shopping center and heard the gunshots and saw what had happened, made a U-turn at the light, got out of his vehicle, and confronted the suspect,” Officer Reed says.
That off-duty deputy exchanged fire with the suspect, Thomas Alberto Tamayo Lizarraga, and ended the deadly rampage by shooting him dead. This tragedy has ripped the hearts out of two families. Zamora, a mother of seven and a popular Horizon podcast guest, was known for inspiring busy women to make time for their health.
She’d spoken publicly about her divorce just a week before. Her daughter, sharing news on GoFundMe, shattered hearts by calling out that her beloved mother was “murdered by her stepdad.” Meanwhile, Garduno leaves behind four little girls—a hardworking dad taken away in an instant. Friends and followers have set up GoFundMe pages to support both families during this devastating time.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing. They’re holding off on releasing the name of the deputy who stepped in to stop the killer—not unusual in such sensitive cases. Those in touch with domestic violence support groups warn that women separating from abusive partners are often at the highest risk, making this crime sadly familiar.
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What started as a routine date night suddenly pulled the curtain back on a violent domestic nightmare. On one side, a beloved fitness coach turned motivational figure. On the other hand, a man she hoped to move past—until he tracked her down in cold blood. And watching from the sidelines, a courageous off-duty cop saw a threat unfold and chose to act in seconds, ending a terrifying chapter for anyone unlucky enough to watch from the parking lot.
This was where people went for maki and sashimi, not tragedy and grief. But tonight, a connection broadcast to thousands became a deadly target inside a restaurant’s parking lot.
If you or anyone you know is navigating a difficult separation, this story underscores the danger—and the urgency of seeking help. Experts say escaping abusive relationships can be the most lethal time for victims. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is reminding everyone to stay alert, plan safely, and reach out when they need support.
Every life lost here leaves behind children, friends, and communities trying to make sense of something that seemed so ordinary, right up until the shots rang out.