Photo: Mark Gretler and Edna Aquino
PITTSBURG — A man considered armed and dangerous was recently arrested on suspicion of murdering his roommate. The suspect had a $1 million warrant for his arrest hanging over him for months.
Last summer, 61-year-old Mark Gretler was involved in a confrontation inside a home on Olivewood Drive. This fatal confrontation happened on the morning of July 27. It was reported by another person living at the same residence.
Responding police and paramedics found Gretler bleeding from his upper torso. He later died as a result of a gunshot wound allegedly fired by one of his roommates.
While investigating, authorities learned the victim and his suspected killer had a history of confrontations. One roommate, 61-year-old Rolando Aquino was identified as the suspect. However, Aquino had fled before police arrived.
While authorities continued searching for Aquino, his vehicle was periodically spotted by surveillance cameras in Pittsburg and San Pablo.
Despite these video sightings, Aquino managed to evade officers from the Pittsburg PD Investigations Division. Eventually, his luck ran out.
One time, Aquino was spotted leaving his car near the San Pablo Lytton Casino in San Pablo. Later, Aquino was spotted again in San Leandro, but still he managed to avoid contact with police.
Finally, Pittsburg police located Aquino in Oakland on March 11 and arrested him on suspicion of murder. They also arrested 60-year-old Edna Aquino as a suspected accessory to the murder.
This homicide investigation remains open. Anyone with information can call Detective Jacob Stage at 925-252-6972.
