Calimesa Man Kills Half Brother, Tries To Poison Victim's Kids: Redlands PD

REDLANDS, CA — A man found dead in a Redlands apartment last week was killed by his half-brother, according to an investigation by the Redlands Police Department. The suspect also tried to kill the victim's children the same day by leaving the gas burners open on the apartment stove while the juveniles slept, the law enforcement agency reported.

Zackary Aaron Brodowski, 32, of Calimesa, was charged with murder and attempted murder following the grisly Dec. 23 discovery at the apartment located at 92 Kansas Street.

Redlands police were called to the location early that same day regarding a shooting. Officers arrived to find the victim, 36-year-old Aaron Richard Rivera, dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

During the investigation, officers found open gas burners on Rivera's stove. Police believe Brodowski intended to kill the victim's sleeping children.

Family members were interviewed as part of the investigation, and evidence found at the apartment pointed to Brodowski, according to Redlands police.

Surveillance cameras at the apartment complex also showed that immediately after the shooting, Brodowski left the scene in a silver 2008 Ford Focus, police said.

Later that day, police tracked Brodowski and his vehicle to his home in the 900 block of California Street in Calimesa.

"Detectives and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team set up surveillance on the residence," the police department reported. Brodowski was arrested at the scene just after 1:30 p.m.

During a search, investigators found a firearm believed to be the weapon used in Rivera's killing, and they found clothing that Brodowski allegedly wore at the time of the shooting, according to police.

A possible motive for the violence was not disclosed.

Brodowski is being held without bail at a county jail in Adelanto and is due to appear in court Jan. 6, jail records show.