Annalisa Santana and Adrian Cardona had four children together, ranging from 1 to 14. And now those children are orphans after losing both of their parents within the span of a week.
Their mother, a California resident, was killed Monday, July 6, while on hiking vacation in Washington state.
Their father was shot and killed Sunday, July 12, while standing outside a bar in San Bernardino, California, according to a police release.
Lt. Richard Lawhead with the San Bernardino Police Department said Cardona was involved in some sort of verbal altercation with a woman inside the bar and was asked to leave.
He can be seen on surveillance video getting into a moving car that is driving away while two men follow on foot. The video, however, does not show the shooting.
Cardona’s brother-in-law, Brian Keith, said before the fatal incident, Cardona had been “very active” in his kids’ lives, despite the fact that he was no longer in a relationship with their mom.
“He loved his children immensely,” Keith said, “He was looking forward to reuniting with them after the tragedy with their mother.”
Santana died July 6 while hiking in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in northwest Washington when part of the Big Four Ice Caves collapsed.
Five other people were injured in the incident.
Family and friends for Santana and Cardona have set up separate GoFundMe.com pages to help cover funeral expenses and to help support the children, Keith said.
The children are living with other family members in Washington.
“Our family is pulling together right now,” Keith said. “Our concern is what’s best for the children in this time of need.”
Police have not arrested anyone in Cardona’s shooting death.
