Influencer Thought the Dating Storm Had Passed—But Her Ex Had Other Plans

Fontana, CA — Gloria Zamora had just started smiling again. After a difficult divorce, she was rediscovering herself—raising her seven kids, sharing her journey online, and even opening her heart to love again.

But in a matter of seconds, all of that came crashing down.

Last Saturday, Gloria and her new partner, Hector Garduno, were wrapping up a simple date night—dinner at a local sushi restaurant—when her estranged husband allegedly ambushed them in the parking lot. Within moments, gunshots rang out, leaving both Gloria and Hector fatally wounded.

Her ex, 36-year-old Thomas Alberto Tamayo Lizarraga, was killed at the scene by an off-duty sheriff’s deputy who happened to witness the attack. That deputy—whose name has not yet been released—acted quickly and likely saved others from being hurt. But for Gloria and Hector, it was already too late.

Gloria wasn’t just a mother—she was a motivator. A fitness influencer with over 150,000 followers, she built a community around resilience, motherhood, and moving forward. Just days before her death, she spoke openly on her “HERizon” podcast about the pain of her broken marriage and the hope she felt in starting over.

Hector was described by his family as hardworking, quiet, and endlessly devoted to his four children. Friends say he and Gloria were good for each other—both healing from past wounds, both trying to build something new.

Now, 11 children are left without the parents who loved them.

“I just can’t believe they’re gone,” said one of Gloria’s daughters through tears. “My mom finally felt happy again. And he took that from her.”

Authorities are still trying to understand how Lizarraga knew where to find them that night. Investigators suspect he may have been stalking Gloria, possibly tracking her movements out of jealousy and control.

Friends and family say Gloria feared her ex. But she also believed she deserved joy after so much heartache. Her story had inspired countless women to leave toxic relationships and believe in second chances.

Now, those same women are grieving a leader and a light.

Two GoFundMe pages have been set up to support the couple’s children. The community is rallying, but the pain runs deep.

This wasn’t just a crime—it was a life stolen from someone who had fought so hard to reclaim it. And it’s a reminder: even when survivors escape abusive relationships, the danger doesn’t always end.