REDLANDS, CA – In a quiet Redlands neighborhood still decorated for the holidays, tragedy unfolded early Tuesday when a man allegedly gunned down his half-brother and then left two young children in grave danger, police said.
Authorities say Zackary Brodowski, 32, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a deadly series of events that began at an apartment complex on Kansas Street, part of this city nestled in California’s Inland Empire. Residents were startled awake by the sound of gunfire at the Rivera Apartments around dawn, prompting an urgent 911 call and a swift police response.
When officers arrived, they discovered 36-year-old Aaron Richard Rivera inside the apartment, fatally wounded with multiple gunshot injuries. Emergency responders declared Rivera dead at the scene. While searching the premises, officers discovered a new peril: the apartment’s kitchen stove burners had all been turned on and left burning, releasing cooking gas throughout the residence.
The victim’s two children were found sleeping in another room, authorities said. The children, unharmed but groggy, were quickly evacuated from the apartment. Officials say the situation could have easily escalated into an even greater disaster had the gas ignited.
Investigators learned through witnesses and evidence inside the apartment that the suspected shooter was Rivera’s half-brother. Surveillance footage from the complex further implicated Brodowski, capturing images of him hastily fleeing from the scene moments after the shooting, police said.
Law enforcement launched an immediate search for Brodowski, reviewing neighborhood cameras and monitoring nearby highways. Later that day, authorities tracked him to Calimesa, roughly 15 miles from Redlands, where he was spotted at a residence on California Street. Detectives, joined by a Special Weapons and Tactics team, established surveillance before moving in.
Brodowski was taken into custody without resistance. At his home, police executed a search warrant and recovered a gun believed to have been used in the homicide, as well as clothing that allegedly matched garments worn during the incident, investigators said.
Officials have not released any details regarding motive, nor have they disclosed the ages of the children who were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. No other injuries were reported.
Brodowski is currently held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga as detectives continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The case remains under active investigation, with authorities expressing relief that the children survived what could have been a multi-fatality crime.
Police have urged anyone with information related to the incident to come forward as they work to finalize charges and review evidence. As the Redlands community grapples with the shock of the holiday tragedy, support is being offered to those affected, particularly the surviving children.