73-Year-Old Man Arrested For Murdering 3 Relatives In California
Ali Zafar, 73, has been arrested and taken into police custody for allegedly killing three of his family members and leaving another critically injured over a dispute about money in the rural southern California town of Fontana. Zafar is accused of shooting and killing his three relatives due to a “ longstanding financial family issue,” Fontana police Sgt. Kevin Goltara said.
Police were dispatched to the apartment complex where the incident occurred around 2:54 local time Wednesday morning after receiving a call about gunshots there. Local authorities found Zafar pacing throughout the apartment with a handgun upon arriving. He was reportedly submissive with officers, dropping his weapon and surrendering to authorities at the apartment.
Eddie Frias, a neighbor, told the Los Angeles Times that a husband, wife and their two children lived in the apartment. He said the family largely “kept to themselves.”
Police arrived to find at least one of the victims still in their bed after Zafar had allegedly went from room to room and shot them while some of the family members were asleep.
The two men and a female who found dead when the police arrived were identified as his nieces and nephews. Another man was discovered in critical condition and rushed to a local hospital. None of the victims’ names have been released as of Thursday afternoon.
The young female relative who survived the attack was able to get away by hiding and escaping the apartment after witnessing the grisly killings. She was not harmed.
“It’s probably what saved her life,” Goltara said.
Zafar was visiting the apartment from his home in Orange County in southern Los Angeles. He arrived at some point Tuesday and proceeded to spend the night.
Zafar reportedly told local investigators that his family members owed him money.
"I don't believe, obviously, the family thought anything like this was going to happen," Goltara told local reporters.
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