A California man is facing murder charges after allegedly stabbing a mother and son in the backyard of their Tulare home before he was shot by another family member.

30-year-old Fabian Gamez allegedly tried to burglarize another nearby home, but police say he spotted a surveillance camera and chose another house just a short distance away. 

Gamez entered the backyard of the home, and as he made his way inside he was confronted by Melissa Quinn, the 58-year-old matriarch of the family. The would-be intruder immediately started stabbing Quinn, and when her 38-year-old son Raymond Garza tried to intervene, authorities say Gamez turned his knife on Garza as well. 

“Losing them, not just one but both at the same time, is a huge hit to the family. They were our protectors and if anything happened they were the first to defend their family members,” said Michael Garza, who is Melissa’s second son and Raymond’s younger brother.

He says their youngest sibling heard the commotion, came out and shot the intruder.

He was able to keep the suspect from getting away until police arrived.

There were more than six people in the home, including Melissa’s father she cared for and Raymond’s children, ages 7, 9 and 19.

It is absolutely tragic that Quinn and Garza lost their lives to a home intruder who was apparently pretty well known to local police, but given the number of kids present in the home, it could have been so much worse. The presence of the armed citizen stopped the suspect’s rampage and likely saved the lives of his siblings and relatives. That does nothing to take away the pain of losing his mother and brother, but I hope that he can find some comfort in knowing that he (and they) protected the family the best they could. 

According to Fresno TV station KFSN, Gamez has had multiple run-ins with police in the past, though local law enforcement haven’t offered any details of his criminal history. I’m very curious to find out what charges Gamez has faced before, and whether or not he was cut any breaks thanks to California’s broken criminal justice system. For now, though, Gamez is facing two charges of first-degree murder as well as a charge of residential burglary with special circumstances, which could result in a life sentence under California law. 

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral expenses for Quinn and Garza. In their post, the family said the pair were inseparable in life. 

The two of them were always together, almost connected at the hip. It’s only fitting they both left this world together, it’s a shame it happened in such a tragic way. They were taken from us by a home intruder, they were taken abruptly and cruelly. They held off the intruder and managed to get help so the kids were kept safe. Their sacrifice will always be remembered.

Quinn leaves behind two sons and six grandchildren, while Garza leaves behind three children of his own; two of whom are now orphaned after losing their mother in 2019. Life in prison honestly doesn’t seem like punishment enough for the perpetrator of these crimes, but I hope and pray that the Garza family will find the justice they’re seeking and deserve.