On the night of March 31, 2017, Gilberto Alfonso Hernandez, a 30-year-old resident of Fontana, California, was tragically shot to death during an altercation at Ziggi's Bar located on Cherry Avenue. Hernandez was reportedly involved in a fight in the bar's bathroom when the incident occurred. The altercation escalated, resulting in Hernandez being shot.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene following a 911 call at approximately 9:10 p.m., but despite their efforts, Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene due to the gunshot wound.
The suspect in the shooting, John Anthony Morales, a 64-year-old man from Bloomington, was arrested the following morning. Morales was apprehended near the intersection of Cherry and Slover avenues, about two and a half miles from the bar. He was taken into custody on suspicion of murder and was held as the primary suspect in the case. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department conducted the investigation, which remained ongoing in the days following the incident. Authorities urged anyone with additional information to come forward to aid in the investigation.
Hernandez's death was a significant blow to his family and community. He was a father of three and was out celebrating a promotion with his coworkers on the night of the incident. The tragic event left his family devastated and seeking justice for his untimely death. The legal proceedings against Morales were closely followed, with the community hoping for a resolution that would bring some measure of closure to Hernandez's loved ones. The case highlighted the dangers of violent altercations and the profound impact such incidents can have on families and communities.
