Mark Gretler, aged 61, was tragically shot and killed on July 27, 2018, in Pittsburg, California. The incident occurred at his home on Olivewood Drive, where he lived with his roommate, Rolando Aquino. According to reports, the two men had a history of confrontations, which culminated in a fatal argument on that fateful morning. A family member called the police shortly after 10 a.m., and officers arrived to find Gretler with a gunshot wound to his upper torso.
Despite lifesaving efforts by the responding officers and medical crews, Gretler succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation quickly identified Rolando Aquino, also 61, as the primary suspect in the shooting. Aquino fled the scene before the police arrived, prompting a manhunt. Surveillance footage later captured Aquino's movements in Pittsburg and San Pablo, where he was seen leaving his car near the San Pablo Casino. Despite these sightings, Aquino managed to evade capture for several months. The Pittsburg Police Department issued a murder arrest warrant for Aquino, describing him as armed and dangerous.
The search for Aquino continued until March 11, 2019, when he was finally apprehended in Oakland. Alongside Aquino, authorities also arrested Edna Aquino, 60, as a suspected accessory to the murder. The arrest brought some closure to the case, but the investigation remained open, with police urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
This case highlights the tragic consequences of unresolved conflicts and the challenges law enforcement faces in apprehending suspects who flee the scene. The community of Pittsburg was undoubtedly shaken by this incident, marking it as the city's first homicide of the year. The legal proceedings following Aquino's arrest would determine the final outcomes for those involved in this tragic event.
