‘Beloved’ teacher shot dead by fiance’s ex-boyfriend in ambush, California officials say

A 34-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend’s fiance, California officials said.

In 2021, Jesse Alvarez fatally shot Mario Fierro, his ex-girlfriend’s new fiance, according to a Feb. 5 news release by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

“Now to share about the man I love. Mario was loyal, genuine, hilarious and unapologetically a coach, teacher, son, brother, friend and fiancé. One moment, Mario and I were planning our wedding, and the next moment, our loved ones were planning his funeral,” Fierro’s fiance, Amy Gembara, said at the Feb. 5 sentencing, according to FOX 5.

Alvarez learned Fierro was engaged to his ex-girlfriend and went to his home and waited an hour for Fierro to leave, officials said.

That’s when Alvarez shot him six times, four times at a close range, killing him, prosecutors said.

During his sentencing, prosecutor Ramona McCarthy called out Alvarez’s Google searches of “how to delete google searches” and “kill your ex’s fiance,” San Diego 7 reported.

“The defendant ambushed the victim and repeatedly shot him to death in a most cowardly and cruel manner,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said in the release. “The victim, Mario Fierro, was a beloved teacher at Cathedral Catholic High School and his death left his school, family, fiancée and community grieving. I’m proud of the excellent investigation by the San Diego Police Department and the tireless work of the prosecution team led by Deputy DA Ramona McCarthy, who brought a measure of justice to this cold-blooded murderer.”

Alvarez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional 25 years to life, officials said.

This story was originally published February 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM with the headline "‘Beloved’ teacher shot dead by fiance’s ex-boyfriend in ambush, California officials say."