SAN DIEGO, California – A jury has delivered a verdict in the case of Jesse Milton Alvarez, who was on trial for the murder of a teacher outside his North Park home. Mario Fierro, a teacher at Cathedral Catholic High School, was shot multiple times on February 1, 2021, as he was preparing to go to work. The jury found Alvarez guilty of first-degree murder with the special-circumstances allegation of lying in wait. Alvarez now faces a life sentence without parole, with sentencing set for May 10.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Alvarez killed Fierro out of jealousy after discovering that Fierro had become engaged to Amy Gembara, another teacher at CCHS. Defense attorneys, on the other hand, claimed that Alvarez acted in self-defense, alleging that Fierro attacked him.
The prosecution presented evidence that Alvarez had been fixated on Gembara, even after their breakup in 2019. They described Alvarez as “jealous, obsessive, and possessive,” citing instances of stalking and harassment. Gembara testified that she had to change addresses and install security cameras to escape Alvarez’s relentless pursuit.
Notably, Alvarez repeatedly attempted to secure employment at Cathedral Catholic High School, where both Fierro and Gembara worked. He was successful in obtaining a food service job, but was swiftly fired when someone recognized him from a security flyer.
The prosecution also highlighted a disturbing digital trail of evidence, suggesting that Alvarez had spent weeks researching methods to kill Fierro. They presented search history, including queries like “how to kill your ex’s fiance” and “how to delete Google search history.”
Conversely, Alvarez took the stand in his defense, claiming that the searches were therapeutic and merely a way to vent his emotions. He conceded, however, to harbouring “bad fantasies” about Fierro. Alvarez’s defense attorney argued that he went to speak to Fierro because of a triggering photo on social media, showing Fierro and Gembara drinking alcohol. Alvarez maintained that he wanted to move on from his fixation with Gembara.
According to Alvarez, he approached Fierro to speak, but the encounter quickly turned violent. Allegedly, Fierro attacked Alvarez, and fearing for his safety, Alvarez pulled out a gun and shot Fierro during the struggle. Fierro was shot a total of six times, with two bullets to the front of his head and two to the back.
Deputy District Attorney Ramona McCarthy sharply rejected Alvarez’s claim of self-defense, stating that all the evidence pointed to premeditated murder. The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, delivering a guilty verdict for first-degree murder.
With the trial concluded, Alvarez now awaits his sentence, which will be handed down on May 10. His conviction for the murder of Mario Fierro serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of jealousy and obsession.