Fitness influencer murdered alongside her partner in California
The incident occurred in front of a restaurant and prompted a strong call to review the risks associated with gender-based violence.
Renowned fitness influencer Gloria Zamora, mother of seven and podcast host HERizon, was murdered in Fontana, California on June 21 while having a meal at a sushi restaurant with her date and current partner, Hector Garduno, 43, who also died due to the severity of his injuries.
According to Fontana Police, Thomas Alberto Tamayo Lizarraga, her 45-year-old ex-husband, located Zamora in the parking lot and opened fire on them both. When Tamayo attempted to flee, an off-duty San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy witnessed the attack, stopped his vehicle, confronted the assailant, and shot him dead at the scene.
The victims
Gloria Zamora, dedicated herself to sharing fitness stories with her community of more than 150,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, inspiring mothers with exercise routines. On her podcast, she had announced weeks earlier that she was separating from her second husband.
Hector Garduno, the father of four of her children, attended the meeting at the restaurant to discuss a work project with Zamora. Family members described him as “devoted and hardworking.”
The families of both men launched GoFundMe campaigns: Zamora's eldest daughter, Jazlynne, called his mother “a light in the community” and recounted that she faced daily “mental, physical and emotional abuse” by her ex-husband and aggressor.
Police continue to investigate how Lizarraga learned of the meeting location and are investigating possible patterns of gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, authorities remind women who initiate divorce proceedings that they are at high risk and encourage them to talk to support organizations, like the National Domestic Violence Hotline .
Gloria Zamora, an inspirational figure in the fitness world, leaves behind a legacy of empowerment and the pain of a broken family. Her death, along with that of Garduno, underscores the urgency of addressing the intensity of domestic violence when separation is imminent.
For more stories like this, follow More Latin.
Sources:
English 
Spanish